men’s and women’s wrestling teams. (Campbellsville University Photo by Joan C. McKinney)
PRESS RELEASE
By Jordan Alves, sports information director
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — When Campbellsville University’s men’s and women’s wrestlers return to campus in August, a new practice and competition facility will greet them.
CU President Dr. Michael V. Carter and Director of Athletics Rusty Hollingsworth have announced the addition of a new wrestling facility to the university’s athletic footprint.
The facility, part of CU’s comprehensive Vision 2025 plan, has been made a reality through multiple donations, including an anonymous lead gift. The building’s steel arrived Friday, May 29. Construction is scheduled to be complete when student-athletes report to campus before fall practice.
“We’re very proud of both our men’s and women’s championship wrestling programs,” Carter said. “We are seeing national championships in the making, and both the coaching staffs and the student-athletes are representing CU very well.”
The 9,600-square-foot facility will feature four locker rooms, four coaches’ offices and an athletic training room, in addition to the mat area.
“This new facility will be a great addition to our athletics department when completed this fall,” Hollingsworth said. “Several of our other programs will also benefit from this building. Not only will it help both of our already successful wrestling programs, but it will allow us to move volleyball and cheerleading into the Gosser Gymnasium. Then we will be able to start a men’s volleyball program. These moves will also help with the scheduling issues we currently have in Powell Athletic Center. So in essence this one facility will impact two more facilities and help us add a new program.”
The women’s wrestling program, which just completed its second full season, will now have its own locker room, two coaches’ offices and a visitor’s locker room. The men’s wrestling program will also have the same amenities.
“The new wrestling facility means the world to the girls and me,” Lee Miracle, women’s wrestling coach, said. “They will finally have a much needed locker room, and we are hoping that we can host more home events in the new facility.”
The Lady Tigers were national runners-up and two wrestlers, Kayla Miracle (133 lbs.) and Tiaira Scott (191 lbs.), won individual Women’s Collegiate Wrestling Association (WCWA) national championships this past season.
“We are very appreciative of this new facility and extremely grateful for all of the support we have had thus far,” Miracle said.
The men’s program, which started in April 2004 when coach Franky James was hired as coach, has seen major success. The Tigers have now had three NAIA National Champions with Davion Caston (133 lbs.) being the most recent in 2015. CU has also had 39 NAIA All-Athletes and has finished as high as third (in 2012) at the NAIA National Tournament.
“The team is very excited about the new facility,” James said. “They were talking about the new facility all spring and are ready to get back on campus in August to see the new additions to our program.”
Marion Hall, CU director of special operations, contracted the building to Hilpp Construction of Lebanon, Ky. Hall has helped Campbellsville grow to now having 25 additional buildings since his arrival in 1999. He has also led major reconstruction of multiple facilities on campus.
Hollingsworth has also been a major force behind the state-of-the-art playing facilities for 650-plus student-athletes. Eight new facilities have been added or renovated since his arrival in 2001 including: The addition of Hawkins Athletic Center, Gosser Gym, Kelly Hall Tennis Complex, Indoor Practice Facility and the Montgomery-Hayden Soccer Field.
He has also led renovation of the football, soccer and baseball fields.
Several other university facilities are planned, as fundraising efforts expand, as part of the current capital campaign and Vision 2025: a new wellness center, expansion of the visual arts area, academic space for a number of programs, and other expansions of Campbellsville University facilities.
“We’re very excited about the future and appreciate the growing number of donors and friends of Campbellsville University who are making these improvements possible,” Carter said.
“Campbellsville University has long known how to stretch a dollar as part our ethic of Christian stewardship. We are building a very nice facility at a very reasonable cost and working with vendors who are very supportive of Christian higher education and student athletes at this level.”
Naming rights are still available for the facility, according to Benji Kelly, vice president for development.
“This is another great opportunity for people to invest in the lives of these young men and women,” Carter said.
For more information to donate and give to Campbellsville University athletics, contact Benji Kelly, vice president for development, at jbkelly@campbellsville.edu or Jason England, director of the Big Maroon Club, at jsengland@campbellsville.edu.
__________________________
Joan C. McKinney
News and Publications Coordinator
Campbellsville University
UPO 787, 1 University Drive
Campbellsville, Ky. 42718
(270) 789-5214 phone
(270) 789-5095 fax
