Sports science researchers, enthusiasts gather at first-annual RECESS symposium

November 7, 2024November 7, 2024

By Katie Gerbasich

The Clemson Formula SAE (CUFSAE) team was rolling in their Tiger 24 Formula One race car as the early morning sun shone through the Madren Center lobby. Meanwhile, Clemson Athletics was setting up a basketball hoop for the Clemson Adaptive Sports and Recreation program to host a wheelchair basketball competition. The College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences’ 4-H representatives brought out saddles from the Equine Center to decorate their mini-golf hole. RECESS was about to begin. 

The Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute (RHBSSI) was thrilled to host its first-annual Research and Creative Endeavors in the Sports Science (RECESS) Symposium for Clemson sports science enthusiasts on Oct. 24, 2024. 

Upon arrival, guests entered the ballroom to see live demonstrations of sports science, from hamstring rehabilitation devices to motion capture rowing and more. 

Attendees engaged with these technologies through participation and asking questions. Posters displaying student and faculty research were also set up, encouraging guests to learn more about Clemson sports science research and creative endeavors. 

At the end of the night, John DesJardins, Ph.D., interim director of the Institute, announced the recipients of RHBSSI’s inaugural 2024 GRIT Awards. These were given to individuals who have set themselves apart in various areas of sport. A trophy and $500 was presented to the following winners: 

• Community and Outreach in the Sports Sciences — Ashlyn Hardie, Ph,D., assistant professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
• Research in the Sports Sciences — Brandon Boatwright, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Communication
• Student Engagement in the Sports Sciences — Rikishi Smith-Rey, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Communication
• The Friend of the Institute Award — Jason Avedesian, Ph.D., former director of sports science in Department of Olympic Sports. 

Undergraduate students who were awarded the Institute’s Mark V. Bellamy Brooks Scholarships for the 2024-25 academic year also took the stage and spoke to guests about their Clemson experiences in sports marketing, sports communication, sports management and motorsports engineering.

Attendees engaged in a mini-golf competition throughout the evening sponsored and themed by seven Clemson colleges and their sports programs therein. A team made up of sports communication faculty members won the tournament earning a gift basket sponsored by Clemson Athletics which included four tickets to the Clemson vs. Louisville football game. The teams who scored the lowest on individual holes also won prizes provided by the colleges. 

The Institute provides opportunities such as RECESS for Clemson faculty, staff, students, alumni and others engaged in sports science and creative endeavors to network, learn and share opportunities in their field. Visit Clemson.edu/Brooks-Sports to learn about other ways you can engage with Clemson’s Robert H. Brooks Sports Science Institute.

Photos provided by Natalie Bell, a student in the Department of Graphic Communications.