National Collegiate Athletic Association
NCAA News Archive - 2007
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Division III notes
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By Jack Copeland
The NCAA News
The NCAA News
Facilities: Olivet College has received a $585,000 donation from an alumnus who serves on the college’s board of trustees to complete renovation of the Cutler Athletic Complex. The college, which did not name the donor, announced that the gift will be used to install a new eight-lane outdoor track around the football field and replace the visitors’ stands at the complex. The renovation began in 2004 with installation of a synthetic football playing surface, a home grandstand, press box, fencing and lighting. The new visitors’ stands will accommodate approximately 550 fans, while the new 400-meter, polyurethane-based track will be equipped for steeplechase competition. “Olivet College is very grateful for this donation, which will allow us to complete the complex renovation,” said Don Tuski, the college’s president. “Having an outdoor track facility on campus will be an added benefit for our athletics department and create more wellness opportunities for all of our students, faculty and staff.”
Sports sponsorship: Westfield State College will reinstate men’s ice hockey as a varsity sport beginning in 2008-09. The school suspended the program for budgetary reasons 20 years ago, but a club program has been in place at the school since 1999. “Varsity ice hockey will bring an added dimension to our department and we look forward to the challenge of building a program that the college, alumni and community can be proud of,” said Richard Lenfest, the school’s athletics director. The college revealed that Peter Laviolette, head coach of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes and a Westfield State alumnus, was influential in working with college President Barry Maloney to secure funding for the varsity program. “It’s satisfying to be able to add another sports opportunity for our students,” Maloney said. “Helping to revive hockey has been a labor of love for our alumni, who so enjoyed having played in the Owls’ program in the past. We hope that being on the ice will be just as memorable for students of the future.” Maloney said the college has worked with alumni to create a “modest endowment” to help fund costs of the program, and said the presence of a nearby rink also helps by eliminating costs the college incurred from travel for practice before the previous varsity team was discontinued. Westfield State is applying to play in the ECAC Northeast Hockey League. The ice hockey program will become the college’s 19th varsity sport.
Sports sponsorship: Westfield State College will reinstate men’s ice hockey as a varsity sport beginning in 2008-09. The school suspended the program for budgetary reasons 20 years ago, but a club program has been in place at the school since 1999. “Varsity ice hockey will bring an added dimension to our department and we look forward to the challenge of building a program that the college, alumni and community can be proud of,” said Richard Lenfest, the school’s athletics director. The college revealed that Peter Laviolette, head coach of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes and a Westfield State alumnus, was influential in working with college President Barry Maloney to secure funding for the varsity program. “It’s satisfying to be able to add another sports opportunity for our students,” Maloney said. “Helping to revive hockey has been a labor of love for our alumni, who so enjoyed having played in the Owls’ program in the past. We hope that being on the ice will be just as memorable for students of the future.” Maloney said the college has worked with alumni to create a “modest endowment” to help fund costs of the program, and said the presence of a nearby rink also helps by eliminating costs the college incurred from travel for practice before the previous varsity team was discontinued. Westfield State is applying to play in the ECAC Northeast Hockey League. The ice hockey program will become the college’s 19th varsity sport.
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