Williamsburg, KY – When the students-athletes return to campus in August they'll be coming back to a slew of upgrades to the athletic facilities, announced by the athletic department. The upgrades will improve several of the facilities on campus, including laying turf on the football field, adding windscreens to the soccer and tennis complexes, and building a bowling lane in the O. Wayne Rollins Center.
"We had a strong spring season and are now carrying the momentum into the summer," said Athletic Director Chris Kraftick. "We are fortunate to get to do some exciting capitol project, highlighted by turf surface on the football field."
The most noticeable change is turf being laid down on the football field at James H. Taylor II Stadium. The new surface will be in place for football season and will also host men's and women's lacrosse games, including the 2017 Appalachian Athletic Conference Lacrosse Championships. Construction on the field began on May 15 and should be completed around the middle of July and be ready for the start of football season. The field will feature alternating colors every five yards with the UC Logo in the middle of the field and one red and one navy end zone. In addition to turf being laid down, Cumberlands is also redoing the long jump pits along the visiting side of the field.
"The turf is going to be a blessing to our University and community. We will be able to serve a lot of needs with the facilities we have," said Head Football Coach Matt Rhymer. "The turf project as well as others are a bold statement of what athletics and our student athletes mean to the University. I am humbled and excited about what the turf project will do for our program."
In addition to football project, the soccer fields will also showcase a new look this fall with the addition of wind screens along the fence as well as a paved parking lot. The parking lot, which is shared by both the baseball and soccer fields will be paved and parking spots added to help fans coming to the games. The wind screens will help brighten the atmosphere and help with the UC branding.
"The two projects that are taking place this summer at the baseball and soccer complex are tremendous upgrades to our facilities. It is proof of the direction where things are headed within our respective programs and the athletics department as a whole," said Head Men's Soccer Coach Chris LeFevre.
"We are blessed to be a part of a University where we work together to be the best. Our student athletes are being provided with first class facilities and these type of commitments from the University is what set us apart from the rest as well as what provides us with the tools necessary to be one of the best in the Mid-South Conference and NAIA," Coach LeFerve added.
The wind screen project also includes the additions of new windscreens along the tennis courts at the UC Tennis Complex. The wind screens will added to the sides of courts as well as along the back wall closest to Main Street. The project is the second phases of improvements at the courts, which added locker rooms and restrooms to the facility last spring.
The final improvement taking place this summer at the O. Wayne Rollins Center, where the indoor batting cage is being transformed into a one-lane bowling alley for the men's and women's bowling team to practice. The lane, which will be located on the second floor of the Rollins Center, will feature Brunswick equipment, Kegel Lane machine, and three different brands of pins.
"It's very exciting to be able to do individual training right here on campus. This is really going to be amazing for our program," said Head Bowling Coach Kevin Reigle. "We also have a Kegel Torch light training bar which is the best training device in bowling right now. Last year the school got us everything we needed for a full service pro shop and now this year we are getting a lane that we will be able to do some amazing training things on. Every year our program is making strides and we are so thankful to all the support from our administration."
The Patriots will debut their new field Thursday, August 23, when they host Warner University in their season opener. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.
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