Collegiate Times

Virginia Tech was ranked the 21st fittest college by ?Men?s Fitness? magazine this year. The magazine ranked 115 colleges based on student responses to questions about their diet and exercise habits as well as the availability of fast food, nutritionists and fitness instructors on campus.

Four other Virginia schools were also ranked in the top 25 list of fittest colleges: University of Richmond (10th), University of Virginia (11th), Roanoke College (19th) and University of Mary Washington (24th).

?This is pretty impressive for the state of Virginia,? said Alison Arner, fitness coordinator of Virginia Tech sports. Virginia Tech is equipped with two on-campus rec centers, McComas Hall and War Memorial. The facilities offered at Tech range from indoor racquetball and basketball courts to outdoor tennis and volleyball courts. Last year, 63 percent of the student body used the fitness facilities at least one time.

?Everyone gets busy with tests and other school work so exercise often becomes a lower priority,? Arner said, ?However, physical activity will help with focus, energy and stamina, which will improve student?s academic performances.?

Tech also provides 40 different intramural sports to keep students active. Jen Libbares, a freshman communication major, plays intramural soccer, basketball, football and basketball.

?I like to play intramural sports because it is a way of having fun while still being physically active,? Libbares said. Jay Polyzou, a freshman accounting major, stays fit by playing on the club team for boy?s soccer.

?In practice, we are constantly running,? Polyzou said, ?We do drills in which we constantly run for about an hour, and if you stop you have to do push-ups.?

Virginia Tech also offers the ?You?re Eating Smarter? program to keep students in good shape. YES is a nutrition education program that provides students with accurate, reliable nutrition information about eating healthy.

?There is always room for improvement, and I think that this program provides that opportunity,? said Jennifer Lindsey, administrative dietitian for Tech.

Virginia Tech offers eight different dining locations with a variety of food options.

?It is the availability of a large variety of tasty, healthy food on campus coupled with good exercise facilities that keep our students fit,? Lindsey said, ?We provide these opportunities, but it is the student?s responsibility to make the choices.?