“What it’s going to do for us, moving forward, is to be able to have (greater) exposure for our programs.”
That’s how Track and Field Head Coach Tom Wilson frames the impact the $11.8 million stadium upgrade that broke ground in early March will have on the campus. Anticipated completion is by December.
“The expectation is to be able to grow and sustain programs. Having a facility like that to train and host meets is something that we’ve never really had since I’ve been coaching,” said the 2002 SUNY Fredonia alumnus who’s trained student-athletes in track and field, and cross-country programs, beginning in 2010-2011.
It will also impact prospective student-athletes in terms of being a good recruiting piece when they come to see the campus, something tangible, a place where the team practices and competes.” – Co-Interim Athletic Director Angela Pucciarelli Rice
“Since I became head coach, the last time we had exposure was 2008. Now, we’ll be able to host track meets on campus again, bring the SUNYAC championships back to campus,” Coach Wilson said. The last meet held hat SUNY Fredonia was a SUNYAC championship.
Wilson’s colleagues in the Department of Athletics and Recreation echo his observations and excitement as well as enthusiasm.
“We have very impressive facilities here at Fredonia State, in particular athletics. This project is going to further enhance the big picture of how we support our students,” said Co-interim Director of Athletics P.J. Gondek.
Talk of upgrading the track and field stadium is not new, so to see ground broken for the project this spring has been very exciting, remarked Co-interim Director of Athletics Angela Pucciarelli Rice.
“We will be able to host outdoor track and field events that we’ve not been able to do for some time, which will impact current student-athletes on the track and field teams,” explained Ms. Pucciarelli Rice, a 2009 alumna and an assistant athletic director the last five years.
“It’s really another space that we will have available general student use, not just for varsity athletes,” added Coach Gondek. He’s directed men’s soccer for the last 25 years and was an assistant athletic director for five years.
“It will also impact prospective student-athletes in terms of being a good recruiting piece when they come to see the campus, something tangible, a place where the team practices and competes,” Pucciarelli Rice remarked.
Not being able to host a track meet challenges the Sports Information staff to take photos, shoot video and compile meet results on a timely basis, explained Sports Information Director Matt Palisin. Members of his staff invariably have to travel with the team for all track meets.
“It’ll be nice to be able to walk out the door and do that,” he commented.
“I just think for athletes for be able to train and compete at same venue and have a brand-new facility is just going to give them a little extra motivation, a little extra pride. I also think it’s a great opportunity to showcase the university, which is one of the nicer SUNY campuses, having traveled to quite a few of them,” Mr. Palisin observed. He’s worked in the Sports Information office for 23 years, including the last five years as director, and was also head baseball coach for 18 years.
With the upgraded track and field stadium, SUNY Fredonia can boast of having two new synthetic turf fields, along with a grass playing surface in University Stadium, thus creating significantly greater flexibility – particularly with added stadium lighting that will increase stadium availability for students. A brand-new facility is expected to draw more students to the track and field program.
Hosting the first round of the NCAA regional cross-country championship last fall brought attention to Blue Devil cross country and the university, Wilson said.
“It had a big impact on the program, the (Athletics and Recreation) department and the school,” he said. A comparable large-scale track invitational held at SUNY Fredonia in the spring will have a similar positive impact on the campus and the surrounding community, Wilson added.
