SJRCC PRESS RELEASE June 2008 SJRCC continues athletic facility improvements The St. Johns River Community College athletic department says it has hit a home run with facility improvements this year. Not only did the current fiscal year bring the addition of the baseball field improvements and lighting, outdoor restrooms, a new gym floor and weight room, the upcoming year promises a state-of-the-art renovation of the men's locker room - a much needed improvement according to Athletic Director Toni Willis. The men's locker rooms, which accommodate the baseball and basketball teams, have not been renovated since the gym's construction in 1963. Willis said improving the facility will not only help recruiting efforts, but will give players a sense of team pride. "With the College facilities being a major deciding factor to incoming student-athletes, the renovation is one of the many upgrades made this year that will make us that much more competitive when trying to sign that blue-chip player," Willis said. "In the recruiting process, you can talk about academics and what an education from SJRCC will offer them," Willis said. "But when that recruit tours the campus, the facility speaks for itself and shows the level of commitment the College has toward its athletic program." SJRCC Executive Vice President Melissa Miller, who oversees construction on the three campuses, said the College will receive the $200,000 for renovations through specific appropriations for the 2008-2009 fiscal year. Miller said the renovation, projected to begin this fall, will include separate locker rooms for the baseball and basketball teams, as well as the addition of a conference room to be utilized for team meetings and game reviews. It will also include Internet access and a place for the athletes to study. "It's always our goal to provide the best opportunities for our student-athletes," Miller said. "They deserve to have a modern facility and state-of-the-art equipment in order to be successful both on and off the field." SJRCC's athletic programs are based on the Palatka Campus and consist of men's basketball, men's baseball, women's fast-pitch softball and women's volleyball. PHOTO CAPTION: The SJRCC gym floor gets a well-deserved "facelift" - part of the ongoing improvements for the athletic department. The gym floor has been stripped to its original wood, sanded, repainted with new graphics and recoated with a clear top coat. According to Athletic Director Toni Willis, this process needs repeating every 8-10 years to maintain the quality of play. On a further note, the refurbishing allowed the College to incorporate the National Collegiate Athletic Association's moving of the three-point line. Return to SJRCC home page.