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Aquinas’ New Fitness Center Opens After a Year of Renovation |
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| Since 1969, Aquinas College athletes have been working out and hanging out in a 44,000 square foot field house. The original building had a small upper area with a few machines for cardio workout and even less space for free weights, as well as a basketball/ volleyball court, locker rooms, and a classroom. Monday, October 25, 2010, however, all that changed. The Sturrus Sports & Fitness Center officially opened and the old, cramped field house turned into a brand new, completely up-to-date fitness center that the Aquinas community can be proud to call their own. |
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| The fitness center is currently being run by building manager Anne Szczepanek ’06. Szczepanek is an alumna of the HPER (Health Physical Education and Recreation) major. She has been working at the Visser Family YMCA in Grandville since graduating from Aquinas where she played softball and remembers the old field house well. “I think there were, what; two ellipticals, a couple aerodyne bikes on that little upper part?” She recalled, talking about the incredible improvement in the amount of workout equipment and space. |
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| Fitness Center |
Fitness Center |
Group Exercise Room |
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| Athletic Director and Baseball Coach Emeritus Terry Bocian, affectionately known as “Coach Bo” by the Aquinas Community, agrees with Szczepanek. “The fitness center, classrooms, dance room, training room and competition court give us versatility for academics and also athletics. It also gives us many amenities that the former place did not (offices, storage, display areas),” he said. |
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| Szczepanek said that the new equipment and amenities will really help athletics at Aquinas. “I think this is great for Aquinas because I know if we would’ve had it when I was here, our team would’ve benefited a lot.” She added that the convenience of having a place to work out on campus would benefit the whole Aquinas community as far as general health. “It’s great for the staff and faculty as far as getting back on the right track for health and wellness,” she said. |
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| The Sturrus Center officially opened for business on Monday, October 25, with the grand opening ceremonies and building dedication taking place on Monday, November 1. AQ students are very excited to start using the facility. Mike Kalchik ’11, one of the interns at the new fitness center, said he thinks this addition will make student life even better. “For students, it’s something we’ve never had; the fitness center, student locker rooms, or a nice gym.” He added, “It looks like our teams will have a true home court advantage.” |
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| Competition Court |
Athletic Training Facilities |
Classroom |
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| Szczepanek wants the Aquinas community to know that she is available if they need help with health and wellness, or if they want to use the Sturrus Center for an event of any kind. “Academics come first, then athletics, and then other events, in this building at least,” she said, but she added that she has an open door policy for anyone who needs a hand. “If they have any questions they can call me,” she said. |
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| The Sturrus Sports & Fitness Center is a wonderful addition to a thriving campus, and this is only Phase One of the project. Phase Two will see the addition of a practice court, an indoor track, and space for indoor soccer, softball, and baseball. “The second building will give us everything we need to operate,” Coach Bo said. This project is an overhaul that, at least to the Aquinas Community, is making all the difference in the world. |
| >>View Full Construction Photo Gallery |
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