OSU/Cascades has taken the first steps in developing a "club sports" program to compete with other colleges and universities.

University spokesman Bruce Petersen says the program is a partnership with the Mount Bachelor Sports Education Foundation (MBSEF), who will supply the coaches and instructors.  "The students do pay a fee to participate. And then they have a club where there will be a president, vice president, secretary - those officers. And they do compete inter-collegiately against other schools that do have these sports. Such as, in skiing, they'll compete against the College of Idaho, University of Washington, other schools that have these sports as club sports."

Petersen says with the local base of athletes we have in Central Oregon, and the facilities, beginning these "club sports" is a natural fit.

Also he says this could develop into a future athletic department for OSU/Cascades.