Drexel's Athletic Offerings: Something for Every Dragon

No matter your skill level or area of interest in athletics, Drexel has something for everyone! Interested in taking to the water? You can do that! Want to channel the magicians at Hogwarts and play quidditch? We've got it! Interested in playing paintball competitively? Practice with our national champs! Over 7,000 students, faculty, and staff participate in Drexel’s recreation programs.

For those interested in competing at the highest level, Drexel has eighteen NCAA Division I athletic teams that are evenly divided between men's and women's teams. No matter the sport, our Dragons find success. In the 2020–2021 academic year, Drexel had four NCAA berths with the men's and women's basketball and lacrosse teams, while also scoring big wins for men’s rowing, wrestling, and Drexel softball — the most wins in a year since the University became a Division I member. Of course, two of those teams were the men's and women's basketball squads who made it to the Big Dance. Finally, Drexel's most recent National Invitation Tournament title is from 2013 when the women's basketball team won the 2013 Women's National Invitation Tournament, knocking out 63 NCAA Division I teams and bringing both glory to campus and a banner to hang from the Daskalakis Athletic Center's basketball court’s ceiling.

The Daskalakis Athletic Center, fondly known as the DAC, houses numerous facilities, including a swimming pool, a golf center, squash courts, and a gymnasium, and is where many of our varsity sports are played. The DAC has been the site of the Battle of 33rd Street, a rivalry between the Drexel and Penn men's basketball teams dating back to 1920, and can accommodate 2,500 spectators. Amongst these spectators is the DAC Pack, or the student fan section, one of the largest student organizations on campus cheering on their peers and hosting fun events such as road trips to local away games and pre-game barbeques! Our teams are also cheered on by our cheerleaders, dance team, and pep band who pump up the crowd!

Over 7,000 students, faculty, and staff participate in Drexel's recreation programs.

Drexel also offers 34 competitive club sports, which are open to all interested in participating regardless of your knowledge or previous participation in the sport. Despite being in an urban environment, Drexel's athletic club offerings include, but are not limited to, ski and board, sailing, and equestrian. Drexel is less than a 1.5 hour drive from Blue Mountain Ski Resort, which enables students to hit the slopes with ease. The sailing club practices at the Corinthian Yacht Club of Philadelphia, which is just a short drive from campus. The Drexel University Equestrian Team (DUET) practices in the West Chester suburb of Philadelphia, about thirty minutes from campus. Drexel also has a Paintball Club who are three-time national champions, most recently winning the 2019 National Collegiate Paintball Association College National Championships!

Drexel's Intramural Sports Program houses 22 league sports, 15 tournaments, and many one-day events throughout the year, which are open to the student body and a great way to unwind from the stress of classes and have some fun! These sports include beach volleyball, three vs. three basketball, baggo (also known as corn hole), and KanJam, to name a few.

If you're interested in getting a workout in on your own time, head over to the Drexel Recreation Center where fitness classes, cardiovascular equipment and weights, a climbing wall, swimming pool, an indoor track, and more await you! If you are looking to get a workout outside when the weather is nice, follow in the footsteps of Philadelphia locals and go for a run along Kelly Drive and up the art museum steps like Rocky Balboa.

Whether you dream of aspiring to be an Olympic athlete like Frank Masley '89 (Olympic luger), hyping up the fans like Sage and Gabriella Cifalogio '14 (Eagles cheerleaders), or playing in the NBA like Malik Rose '96 — the athletic offerings at Drexel can help propel you on your path. In the meantime, why not start off by learning the Drexel Fight Song? "Fight on for Drexel, We've got the stuff we need to win this game / We're gonna fight on for Drexel, Take the Dragon on to fame./ Fight on for Drexel, The gold and blue is on another spree, / We're gonna fight, fight, fight for Drexel U, On to Victory!" (followed by the "Four 'D' Yell" Chant).