LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State Rowing held an open house Saturday, April 13 for the newly-renovated state of the art Rowing Training Center located on Grand River Park in Lansing, Mich., complete with a brand-new team locker room, indoor training space and staff offices.
"It's incredible to have a world-class facility here," Spartan Rowing Head Coach Stacey Rippetoe said. "It really speaks to the commitment that Michigan State makes to its athletes. I think we can get everything done that we need to here and we can take out team to the next level in a united way."
The open house welcomed more than 200 friends of the program with speaker appearances from Michigan State Vice President and Director of Athletics Alan Haller, Assistant Athletic Director and Sport Administrator Jacquie Joseph in addition to Rippetoe.
The first phase of construction at the Rowing Training Center features a first-time space in which the entire team of 75-plus student-athletes can train indoors at once on erg machines. The area also includes a room for athletic training, staff offices and a conference room.
"We feel so supported as student-athletes to have a space to call our own," sophomore rower Alaina Roush said. "After having to split into groups to train on the ergs, to have a space that fits all of us is super special."
In phase two, development was complete on a locker room, which features 80 full-sized lockers and a bathroom with sufficient showers, restrooms, sinks and dressing space.
Spartan Fund has a fundraising campaign underway for the third phase of completion, which will provide indoor tanks for the team to fine-tune proper techniques that can not be practiced on the erg machines, especially when limited to indoor practices during the fall and winter months.
Release and photos courtesy of MSU Athletics.
"It's incredible to have a world-class facility here," Spartan Rowing Head Coach Stacey Rippetoe said. "It really speaks to the commitment that Michigan State makes to its athletes. I think we can get everything done that we need to here and we can take out team to the next level in a united way."
The open house welcomed more than 200 friends of the program with speaker appearances from Michigan State Vice President and Director of Athletics Alan Haller, Assistant Athletic Director and Sport Administrator Jacquie Joseph in addition to Rippetoe.
The first phase of construction at the Rowing Training Center features a first-time space in which the entire team of 75-plus student-athletes can train indoors at once on erg machines. The area also includes a room for athletic training, staff offices and a conference room.
"We feel so supported as student-athletes to have a space to call our own," sophomore rower Alaina Roush said. "After having to split into groups to train on the ergs, to have a space that fits all of us is super special."
In phase two, development was complete on a locker room, which features 80 full-sized lockers and a bathroom with sufficient showers, restrooms, sinks and dressing space.
Spartan Fund has a fundraising campaign underway for the third phase of completion, which will provide indoor tanks for the team to fine-tune proper techniques that can not be practiced on the erg machines, especially when limited to indoor practices during the fall and winter months.
Release and photos courtesy of MSU Athletics.
