Of all the clubs at Iowa State, the Yo-Yo Club may be the most unusual, as well as the newest.

The club’s purpose is the application of the virtues and values of yo-yoing as a recreational activity, said Tyler Abens, sophomore in industrial education and technology and one of the five founding fathers of the club.

The club was founded last year after Abens gave four of his friends yo-yos for Christmas. During break they were “yo-yoing and loving it,” Abens said, and more caught on to the craze.

The guys got an application and made themselves an official club. They are making T-shirts and are going to be in the Veishea parade next spring, he said. They also have a Web page under Student Organizations on the ISU homepage.

The club had 183 people sign up at Clubfest, Abens said, and about 30 to 40 come to the monthly club meetings. Meetings are held in the Memorial Union, usually in the Pioneer Room.

“We get together and have fun yo-yoing. We share, teach and learn tricks,” Abens said.

ISU students can learn and be in the club by contacting Abens. “It’s a great stress reliever,” he said.

“Yo-yoing is making a comeback. It’s been in the papers and on the news,” he said. Today’s technology has also made yo-yos with variety — namely the triple-axle yo-yo, which has ball bearing axles. It allows a person to do extra long “sleepers,” where the yo-yo stays extended for longer periods of time.

“Anybody can do it — it’s a really fun hobby,” Abens said. “We’re always looking for members, and it’s not a big time commitment. It’s all for fun and everyone is welcome,” he added.