After 15 years of the same look at the Johnson Wellness Center, it’s time for a change — a $225,000 change. The multifunction facility has hosted camps, practices, tournaments and games, but the GV athletics department saw potential for it to do much more.
The most noticeable change will be a new floor in the field house. Athletic Director Troy Plummer said he believes new flooring is essential because the surface has not been replaced since it first got installed, and new flooring will improve the performance and safety for all athletes. The surface will also give the field house a whole new look with volleyball lines and basketball lines for multi-sport use.
Other updates include portable bleachers to accomodate larger crowds, signage, speakers, paint and other small details to make the overall look of the Johnson Wellness Center polished.
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“(We wanted) a distinct Grand View athletic facility versus the feeling of walking into a YMCA,” said Ventsi Stoimirov, head women’s soccer coach.
Renovations will generate a more professional look and help Grand View attract major events such as national tournaments. The first will be the men’s national volleyball tournament in April.
“The overall look will be most exciting, being able to walk in and feel like it is a competition facility,” said Tina Carter, women’s volleyball coach. “(It will be) completely different from anything that we have had.”
Volleyball will perhaps benefit the most from these improvements, but a variety of sports will benefit from the space as well. These include baseball, softball, track, soccer and intramural basketball.
“As much as it seems that it is a volleyball-centered project, you know the impact goes much further than that, and I think it’s exciting to be part of that kind of growth,” said Donan Cruz, men’s volleyball coach.
The updates will also provide a lot of advantages for Grand View’s athletes. One key advantage is that the new surface will be safer for Grand View athletes.
“I think the new surface will help out, as far as traction goes and as far as it not being so slick and maybe cut down on possible injuries,” said Al Driscoll, assistant men’s soccer coach.
Stoimirov echoed that sentiment: “The old (floor) has been used for … 15 years consistently by a lot of sports, so I think the new flooring, especially being laid on top of the old one, is going to create cushion.”
Coaches are also optimistic this transformation will help them recruit athletes to Grand View.
“(This) changes the platform for what we are able to showcase to our recruits,” Cruz said.
Many people affected by these transformations feel that the modernized look of the Johnson Wellness Center will create a new feel and spark interest to outside groups and incoming teammates.
“I think the biggest thing is recruiting,” Carter said. “I think the bigger picture though is to have more of a competition facility for us and yet also be multifunction so everyone else can use it as well.”
Overall, it’s all about the students. According to Stoimirov, the new updates show that “Grand View is moving in the right direction, and we are here to provide the best possible experience for our students.”
