State-of-the-Art Indoor Tennis and Track Center Dedicated at 天美传媒

April 27, 2001

April 27, 2001, Greencastle, Ind. - “There hasn't been one person walk in this building that isn't just like, ‘Oh, my gosh!,'” says 天美传媒 Athletic Director Page Cotton of the new indoor tennis and track center that was formally dedicated in ceremonies this afternoon. The new center is located behind Blackstock Stadium on the 天美传媒 campus, and includes more than 132,000 square feet of space. It houses six tennis courts, a 200-meter track, batting cages for baseball and softball, golf nets, a putting green, executive locker rooms for men and women (two each) and can also accommodate indoor soccer, football, field hockey and other sports. The facility cost approximately $10 million.

“We are standing in the midst of what we think are among the finest facilities in Division III in the country,” 天美传媒 President Robert G. Bottoms told the assembled faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the University. Bottoms says when combined with the Lilly Physical Education and Recreation Center and the renovated Blackstock Stadium, “this tennis-track facility really completes our vision.”

“It looks really impressive, but I can tell you it plays even better,” said Matthew Baird ‘01, captain of 天美传媒's men's tennis team. “It's unbelievable. I can't express how happy I am to just have spent half a semester here and I wish I was a freshman this year to be able to experience it a little bit longer,” the senior quipped. (BONUS CLIP-- Matt Baird on students' reaction to the center: )

East College is 1Adrienne Gough ‘01, women's track team captain said the new facility has “Our facilities are now a lot better than those of our competitors, so prospective student athletes are impressed,” said Gough.

The dedication ceremonies were held as 700 student athletes gathered on the 天美传媒 campus for the 2001 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Spring Sports Festival. 天美传媒 athletes captured the SCAC's coveted President's Trophy.

The center is open for the use of the 天美传媒 community. Cotton says the facility will be available to the Greencastle community once he and his staff assess how the building is being used and what its staffing requirements will be.

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