Construction Of New Athletic Fields Announced

ELMS COLLEGE ANNOUNCES CONSTRUCTION OF NEW ATHLETIC FIELDS

CHICOPEE, MA, May 18, 2007 - Elms College has announced plans to break ground on the construction of two new athletic fields according to college President James H. Mullen, Jr.

According to Mullen, the $1.71 million project will begin within the next several weeks with an anticipated completion date some time in mid-August.

Mullen said, "Our athletic program enhances the educational experience for so many of our students. The value of co-curricular programming - whether it is through athletics, service opportunities, or the arts - is well documented. Students develop character traits that benefit them throughout their lives - commitment, responsibility, teamwork, motivation, and leadership. We're proud to provide these high quality facilities our students deserve." 

The project, headed by Fontaine Brothers and the engineering firm of Coler & Colantonio, includes a 72x120-yard, multi-use artificial surface field and NCAA-compliant softball field.

Russell J. Omer, chairman of the board of trustees at Elms College and senior vice president of Chicopee Savings Bank, said, "One in three of Elms College students currently participate on our 15 varsity sports teams, and many of them play more than one sport. In fact, the number of student athletes at Elms College has increased 35 percent over the past five years. This dramatic increase in the number of student athletes gives us cause to renovate our athletic fields so we may better serve our student population."

"We have discussed new athletic fields for the past several years, and to see our dream become a reality is wonderful," Elms College Director of Athletics Louise McCleary said.  "In the past five years, our athletic programs have grown tremendously with the addition of three intercollegiate programs; an increase of approximately 75 student athletes and the hiring of 11 full-time athletic department members - now is the time for us to continue our successful growth with first-class athletic fields."

"Your athletic facilities represent your team, and your college," Elms College women's soccer player Caitlin Childs '08 said. "We're a great team, and Elms is a great school, so it says a lot now that we will have great fields."

The artificial surface field, comprised of Field Turf monofilament prestige series, will include a Musco lightning system. The new multipurpose field will host all practices and games for men and women's soccer, field hockey and women's lacrosse as well as early spring outdoor practices for baseball and softball. The college's physical education classes, intramural programs, and general student population will also use it.

"These new fields will be tremendous recruiting assets for all of our field sports," Elms College men's soccer coach John Amaral noted. "Recruits and their families can only be impressed when touring our new facilities."

The softball field will include covered dugouts, a batting cage and will play 200 feet down both baselines and 210 feet in center field.

"Our current field is too short. It was built in the space we had, not the space it needed," Elms College softball coach Cheryl Condon said. "The building of our new fields shows a tremendous commitment by Elms College to provide its student athletes with the resources necessary to succeed."

Elms College is a co-educational, Catholic college offering a liberal arts curriculum that gives students multiple perspectives on life. Founded in 1928 by the Sisters of St. Joseph, whose mission is uniting neighbor with neighbor and neighbor with God, Elms College has a tradition of educating reflective, principled, and creative learners, who are rooted in faith, educated in mind, compassionate in heart, responsive to civic and social obligations, and capable of adjusting to change without compromising principle.