As the sun sets every Friday through mid-August, they invade Montrose Harbor. Most, of course, are Chicago residents, with some suburbanites sprinkled in—and even some from Michigan and Wisconsin.
The annual Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association ( CMSA ) beach volleyball league has truly skyrocketed in popularity. There are 140 teams this season, up from 111 last year. This is believed to be the world's largest LGBT beach volleyball league—definitely the biggest in the United States—and it fields the most teams in CMSA history.
'The beach is a very popular place to be and everyone just loves this sport,' said Anton Mulvaney, 44, the league's commissioner. 'Actually, though, I was concerned that there wasn't going to be the same amount of teams as last year, so I was kind of floored at the actual number of people who registered.'
A large part of the credit for beach volleyball's spike in participation this summer goes to Denice Bardt and Stacey Ravenisi, who joined the 12-person board of directors on the recommendation of CMSA president Marcia Hill, when Mulvaney sought additional female support.
Bardt and Ravenisi spearheaded a 'media blitz' about the sport, Mulvaney said.
The women's division this season is its largest ever. There are 20 women's teams, up from 12 last summer. Mulvaney expects that total to jump to 30 in 2009.
'It is quite an intense experience every Friday night. At times, I get teary-eyed, knowing that so many people are having such a good time,' said Mulvaney, who is gay, lives in West Rogers Park and works as a clinical scientist.
There are six divisions for open play ( with men's teams composing the majority of squads ) and two for women. There are about 1,200 players this season, the most ever, with players ranging in age from 18 to 50.
'There truly is a division [ of play ] for everyone,' Mulvaney said. 'We really want to be inclusive, so we do not turn anyone away.'
But that's forced a space issue. Or lack thereof, to be exact. With the season running 10 weeks, teams now only play seven of those weeks.
The league is considering using two beaches in 2009, Montrose and Foster, 'so if we get into the 150- or 160-team-range, we then would be able to accommodate all,' Mulvaney said.
'Unfortunately, there are only three teams in the competitive division. I just think the competitive guys are getting older [ and not wanting to still play in that division ] or moving out of the area.' Still, Mulvaney wants to expand to at least six competitive teams in 2009.
Expansion would be especially beneficial since Chicago will host the North American Gay Volleyball Association ( NAGVA ) Championships XXVII next May, marking the fourth time the city has hosted the annual event—but the first time since 1991.
CMSA will host the annual Queen of the Beach Volleyball Tournament June 28 at Osterman Beach ( also known as Hollywood Beach ) , 5800 N. Sheridan, with registration starting at 8 a.m. There are two- and four-person divisions. See www.chicagomsa.com or e-mail chgovb2006@aol.com .
Photos by Ross Forman