Groundbreaking set for athletic facility

Northwestern College will break ground for a new indoor athletic practice and training facility Friday, Sept. 26. The public is invited to attend a brief ceremony—during which the name of the building will be revealed—starting at 4:30 p.m. on the west side of the Rowenhorst Student Center (RSC).

“We’re excited to see work begin on this facility,” says Dr. Earl Woudstra, director of athletics. “It will benefit all athletes by providing a place for strength and conditioning work and allow our spring sports teams to better prepare for their seasons by practicing indoors.”

The $3.2 million, 33,000-square-foot building will include a multipurpose area for team practices, an athletic conditioning space, batting and pitching cages for baseball and softball, hitting nets and a practice green for golf, and a weight room for athletes. Located just west of the RSC and connected to the DeWitt Physical Fitness Center, it will relieve demands placed on the fitness center’s four-court area, which currently serves athletes, students and Orange City community members.

In addition to Woudstra, participants in the groundbreaking will include President Greg Christy; Dave Bomgaars, one of the principal volunteer fundraisers for the project; the couple for whom the building will be named; and Ben Green, an exercise science major from Sioux Falls, S.D. Also present will be Marty Guthmiller, chair of the Board of Trustees; representatives from Hoogendoorn Construction and Cannon Moss Brygger Architects; and the Orange City Ambassadors.

Construction of the athletic practice and training facility will begin this fall as soon as demolition of grain elevators, located on property purchased from Alceco, is completed.