Speedos, flip flops and beach towels lined the pool area at State Gym. The temperature was almost as hot as a sauna, but that didn’t matter to the two teams competing in the innertube water basketball games.

Linda Marticke, intramural coordinator, said she knows all about playing innertube water basketball.

“I practiced it when we first decided to have it,” Marticke said. “We took our staff down there and kind of tested it out — it was fun.”

Dunkin’ Donuts and Renegades of Funk are two co-ed teams that competed in this interesting intramural sport.

There are 74 teams that signed up for innertube basketball, including men’s, women’s and co-recreational teams.

“I may have had 80 before when we had more students, but 74 is a good number; it’s pretty consistent,” Marticke said.

Marticke brought the sport to Iowa State back in the 1970s.

“I found this at a state recreational conference and Loras College was doing it in Dubuque, 1976,” Marticke said. “I went to the conference and saw them doing it, and thought we can try that. So we brought it back here. People have fun splashing around. It’s unusual — I think they enjoy it.”

Brian Reinig, senior in architecture, said he likes playing different intramural sports. He said he’s a competitor and throughout the game he tried his best to block shots and defend his team’s goal.

“I just play as many as I can, and try and have fun,” Reinig said. “I’ve played pickleball, basketball, racquetball. I’ve played my entire five years of being here.”

Intramurals definitely aren’t as strenuous as Big 12 sports, but they do offer a great way to stay in shape. Most people look to intramurals as something fun to do with friends.

Reinig said that intramurals are indeed fun, but his favorite part about playing intramurals is getting the exercise.

“Otherwise, I’ll sit on my butt all day long and not do anything,” he said.

Caleb Rogers, senior in architecture, said that innertube basketball is extremely tough.

“The hardest part is keeping your butt in the innertube,” Rogers said.

Players from each team are allowed to push others off their innertubes. The women players were pushed into the water more frequently by male competitors. Strength is a factor in this game.

Shrieks echoed throughout the pool as the winner, Renegades of Funk, celebrated its 32-10 victory. Each team shouted and splashed around after the game.

Marticke said that innertube basketball is nothing short of a fun sport.

“It just seems so odd, like it’s not a real sport, but it is,” Marticke said. “It’s a fun, fun thing. More and more people are becoming interested in innertube water basketball. It’s one of those fun sports we like to offer, because it’s competitive, but it’s different.”

Marticke said that recreational services also offers water volleyball.

The turnout for water volleyball is just as high as it is for water basketball, which shows students and faculty members are increasing their interest in intramural water sports.

“Just being in the water, there’s something about that,” Marticke said.