The new athletics facility at Southwestern Michigan College has had its grand opening with a dedication held last week. SMC President Joe Odenwald tells WSJM News the 1st Source Bank Fieldhouse features a court, video scoreboards, new locker rooms, a training room, and a second-floor skybox. After SMC brought back sports last year with the revival of the Roadrunners cross country team, Odenwald says it’s been exciting on campus.
“We’re very close right now to being absolutely full in housing for the first time in five years,” Odenwald said. “I think we’ve got a waiting list currently for women, and we’re got 100 athletes here for the fall.”
And Odenwald says they wouldn’t be there if not for the return of athletics. Since the revival of cross country, the college has also brought back volleyball, basketball, and wrestling. He says the college is encouraging students to come out for Roadrunner games.
“General admission is no charge this inaugural season. We want to fill it up. We’ve got 525 seats, about a third are chair backs, and we want to see the 1st Source Bank Fieldhouse full every single time.”
SMC renovated existing facilities to make the new fieldhouse possible. Tours of the facility were held as part of the dedication. Odenwald says the SMC volleyball team will face Lake Michigan College, a likely friendly rival, on Saturday.
