Molly Musselman spends 18 hours a week exercising her horse for the upcoming polo season. Musselman, along with several friends and some advisers, helped start the polo club team at TCU last year. In its premier season, the polo team won its first tournament.

Musselman said she hopes for an even more successful second season.

“I am really excited about this year,” Musselman, a sophomore premajor, said. “Last week, we had a ton of new girls come out to practice, so everything is going really well.”

Musselman is one of hundreds of TCU students who participate in club sports through the university.

The sports clubs program has recently added baseball, soccer, polo and paintball clubs.

The university has 14 sports clubs on campus, said Cristie Carpenter, assistant director of intramurals and sports clubs.

She said the program has disbanded the gymnastics, cycling and high adventure clubs this year.

Most of the clubs that are no longer in existence failed because of a lack of membership, Carpenter said.

The high adventure club will now be part of the University Recreation Center, she said.

The program is designed to promote participation in a variety of sport activities. The clubs compete against other universities, and each of the clubs is open to anyone who has an interest.

The clubs receive funding from the Student Government Association.

Carpenter said each club developed a budget based on its specific needs.

“All of our clubs look great this year,” Carpenter said. “But baseball and soccer are really going to have amazing seasons.”

Bryce Powell, the adviser for the club baseball team, said he, too, expects great things from the upcoming season. Although the club’s season does not actually begin until spring, the team is already getting in some practice by playing in a local league this fall.

“We hope the tougher competition in the spring will draw a larger fan base,” Powell said.

Kaitlin Kelly, co-president of the women’s club lacrosse team, is interested in increasing the number of fans at lacrosse games this spring, as well.

“Last season, we had no fans,” Kelly said. “Lacrosse is finally growing in Texas, though, so hopefully more people will come watch.”

A student can contact any of the club teams through the Recreation Center.

Any student can apply to start a new club as long as there are 10 interested members. To be an eligible member of a sports club, a student must be enrolled in three or more hours at TCU and be able to pay the clubs dues.

Carpenter said club dues go toward personal equipment and some travel expenses.