Progress Report: Blue Hose Student Athletes React to Current Renovations on PC’s Athletic Facilities

Templeton+Physical+Education+Center%E2%80%99s+gymnasium+will+receive+a+major+makeover+as+part+of+PCs+Championship+Spirit+project.+%C2%A9Mitchell+Mercer

Templeton Physical Education Center’s gymnasium will receive a major makeover as part of PC’s Championship Spirit project. ©Mitchell Mercer

Amman Dewberry and Lorenzo Rios

After raising eight million dollars in a record-setting five months, renovations are well underway for Presbyterian College’s “Championship Spirit” project on current athletic facilities.

For the past few months, renovations to the existing facilities on campus have brought buzz to a lot of students. With the project being one of the most anticipated in school history, the facilities will allow many of PC’s current student athletes to compete at the highest level.

Recently in August, the school celebrated the accomplishment with a groundbreaking ceremony that included remarks from school president Dr. Matthew vandenBerg, Blue Hose coaches, and recognition of members of the Championship Spirit Steering Committee for making the project possible.

“We believe every Blue Hose student-athlete deserves to practice and compete in top-notch athletic facilities. The Championship Spirit initiative proves to our teams and coaches that we are committed to their success,” Rob Acunto, PC’s athletic director, said on the school’s athletics website.

According to the school’s ground breaking ceremony, these renovations have been in the talks for several decades, since many other schools in PC’s main-affiliated conference, the Big South, have seen their athletic teams benefit with new renovations to their existing facilities both at a recruiting and competitive level.

After raising money for the project, the new state of the art facilities will bring a plethora of opportunities to many teams on campus, some of which will have major impacts on programs for years to come.

One of its key centerpieces is a new multipurpose facility for wrestling, acrobatics & tumbling, and competitive cheerleading that can be used for team practices as well as to show recruits visiting PC on official visits. 

“As a team we are going to get a lot more recruits [with the facility upgrades]. It’s supposed to be one of the biggest facilities in the southeast,” Reed Douglass, a freshman on the Blue Hose men’s wrestling team, said. 

Additionally, renovations to Elton Pollock Field and the PC softball complex will add offices for coaches, concession stands, locker rooms, additional lights, and new seating options. The additions will allow fans of both teams to enjoy a more enhanced and enjoyable game-day experience.

“I am looking forward to having a new locker room, and I believe that it will allow us to recruit better talent and grow our program,” Chase Hughes, a senior on the Blue Hose baseball team, said.

For the Templeton Physical Education Center’s gymnasium, the facility will be receiving a major facelift unlike any other.

Templeton will add on new bleachers, an updated HVAC system, and a new scoreboard for basketball, volleyball, wrestling, and other indoor sporting events for fans attending games. Furthermore, renovations to the current Templeton weight room will also take place, adding new equipment for Blue Hose student athletes to use while in preparation for games during the season.

“The new weight room is nice. I am looking forward to the new gym floors, air conditioning, seating, and scoreboard to attract more fans and support for athletics,” a freshman Blue Hose volleyball player said. 

Most projects under the Championship Spirit realm are expected to be completed in the near future.