{"id":4063,"date":"2023-09-20T10:07:05","date_gmt":"2023-09-20T14:07:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magazine.alumni.ncsu.edu\/?p=4063"},"modified":"2023-09-20T10:07:05","modified_gmt":"2023-09-20T14:07:05","slug":"fly-fishing-bowling-and-lots-of-swim-tests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magazine.ncsu.edu\/2023\/fly-fishing-bowling-and-lots-of-swim-tests\/","title":{"rendered":"Fly Fishing, Bowling and Lots of Swim Tests"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

NC State\u2019s Department of Health and Exercise Studies turns 100 this year. Whether you called it P.E. or gym, it\u2019s a department that touches every student who walks the bricks of NC State\u2019s campus. Over the years, the curriculum has expanded from mandatory swimming tests to a host of electives that include bowling, badminton, hip hop and yoga. We asked readers of NC State<\/em> magazine to send us their memories of P.E. classes. Here are some of the responses we received.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I remember P.E. 100<\/strong> as one of the most valuable required classes that I took at NC State. It established a \u201clifetime skill\u201d related to my overall health that I continue to benefit from 45 years later! \u2014 Dennis Wood \u201980<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I began my journey <\/strong>in the summer of 1972 on a hot August day excited to meet my professors and make new friends. All freshmen were expected to take introductory P.E., and we had to demonstrate the ability to swim. I had heard that you could not graduate unless you could master this skill. I fortunately passed this test and was quickly shuttled to the next evaluation, where we were instructed to do as many pull-ups as we could. When it was my turn, I proudly completed a total of 17! I surprised even myself, treating it as a competition against the performances of those who preceded me. When I noticed that my other friends were \u201cstruggling\u201d to complete five or fewer pull-ups, they told me the instructors were using the test as a benchmark for improvement expected during the semester. In order to simply get a C, at semester\u2019s end, I had to far surpass this accomplishment (demonstrating that I made exceptional strides in my athletic growth). On this day, I learned a valuable lesson, as well as a new word from my fellow classmates, the art of \u201csand-bagging!\u201d \u2014 Deane F. Tolman Jr. \u201976<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We were required <\/strong>to take a minimum of four P.E. classes to graduate. That was almost unheard of, but I think it should still be required. I took P.E. 100, with that college-issued shirt, which I wish I still had. Then I signed up for volleyball, step aerobics, bowling, golf, and the best class ever \u2014 downhill skiing (over Christmas break with a trip to Boone, N.C.) I even audited running my senior year to stay in shape. \u2014 Leigh Ann Marks \u201998, \u201999 MR<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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P.E. courses were<\/strong> a fun way to spend time with friends with majors very different than mine. I would never have signed up for weight training, but a close friend (and former suitemate) talked me into it. I also lucked out and got into a bowling course with my boyfriend at the dearly missed bowling alley on Hillsborough Street. However, my strongest memory is fitness walking. My older friends warned me against taking a P.E. class for a grade, but I figured it would be an easy A. Boy, was I wrong! I am still embarrassed to admit that I made only a B in fitness walking. \u2014 Bianca Bradford Howard \u201995<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was scheduled <\/strong>to take P.E. 100 right after lunchtime my first semester on campus. I was na\u00efve enough to think that we would not do much the first day of class, so I had a big lunch. I was surprised when the instructor told us that we were running a timed mile-and-a-half immediately after handing out the syllabus. Naturally, my time was poor. I was lucky, though. Part of the grade was showing improvement over the semester. \u2014 Kenneth M. Berry \u201989<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I loved all my P.E. classes.<\/strong> I took archery, roller skating, golf, dance and bowling. My most memorable day took place in bowling class at Western Lanes on Hillsborough Street. Class was going fine until . . . I was approaching the lane with my ball, went down into position, and heard a rip! I had ripped my jeans all the way down the back seam. Mortified! And, oh yes, people saw it. I got over the humiliation and finished the semester, but I will never forget that sound of threads tearing apart as I released my ball. \u2014 Annette Cheney \u201909<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I took canoeing, tennis and <\/strong>aerobics and body conditioning. My memories of canoeing were placing the canoes in the Carmichael Gym pool and having to paddle around for practice. I had been a lifelong summer camp kid, so canoeing came naturally to me. The water aerobics class that shared the pool with us was unfazed by our presence. We took our end-of-course trip to a nearby lake, and that was so much fun. Tennis I was not my best choice, as it was an 8 a.m. class. As a freshman, that was rough to get to in the morning, and I now advise students going to college to not take a P.E. class first thing in the morning. Aerobics and body conditioning was just for kicks and grins, and definitely not strenuous. I took that course with a friend, and his intent was to \u201cfind a girl” in the course, however he was not successful with that endeavor. \u2014 Jennifer Boggs \u201912<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was the fall of \u201958<\/strong> and I was one of about 6,000 students at NC State \u2014 an eager freshman enrolled in P.E. at old Carmichael Gym. Not too big at 5\u20198\u201d and 155 pounds, but a pretty good athlete, having captained my high school football team. The previous P.E. activities had not been a great challenge. I had selected boxing primarily because I had never done it before. It looked pretty simple to me \u2014 put on the gloves and punch the other guy! The first couple of sessions we practiced technique and strategy and punched the bag a bit. This is not as easy as it looks, I thought. The big day arrived and we paired up to go a round. I was encouraged when my opponent showed up at 5\u20196\u201d and less than 130 pounds. A real flyweight. But unfortunately, a Golden Gloves flyweight champion. He knew all the tactics and most important was boxing fit. After 30 seconds I could hardly lift my gloves and I was pummeled. We did become friends and he helped me get through the remaining sessions with some success. \u2014 Lynn Mike Perry \u201962, \u201964 MS<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n