ARTIFICIAL TURF FIELD CONSTRUCTION PHOTO GALLERY

AURORA, N.Y. – As a key component of the institution’s campus-wide improvements and upgrades to facilities and technology, the Wells College Board of Trustees voted to construct an artificial turf playing field that will house men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s lacrosse, field hockey and future baseball and softball teams.

The plans for the environmentally-sustainable facility call for lights and a press box, providing a championship-level experience for the College’s 190-plus student-athletes. As one of the few artificial turf baseball and softball complexes in upstate New York, Express teams and their fans will enjoy an exciting game day experience that also provides a competitive advantage over rival colleges and universities.

“Investments such as these undergird our commitment to our students and their scholarship,” said Carrie Bolton ’92, Chair of Wells’ Board of Trustees.

With an all-weather playing surface, the flexibility of the facility allows for program expansion within intercollegiate and recreational sports, along with future student life or community activities. The investment will also allow student-athletes to continue to embrace the NCAA Division III philosophy that maintains an environment where athletics is conducted as an integral part of the student-athlete’s educational experience.

“I would like to thank the Wells College Board of Trustees, Chairperson Bolton, President [Thomas] de Witt and President [Jonathan] Gibralter for their leadership and vision of this very exciting project,” remarked Director of Athletics Michael Lindberg. “The addition of a state-of-the-art, lighted turf athletic facility will not only provide us with a competitive advantage on the field, but sends a strong message to our recruits, current students and alumnae/i that Wells College is committed to excellence in its future.”

Softball will be reinstated at Wells after a one-year hiatus and baseball will be introduced as the 16th varsity sport for the Express. Both softball and baseball are expected to begin non-conference schedules in the Spring of 2016 and become full participating members of the North Eastern Athletic Conference in the Spring of 2017. Both sports are expected to generate heavy interest from prospective and current student-athletes.

“Taken together, these are critical and prudent investments,” said President de Witt, “not just in terms of the added value to the physical campus, but the increased opportunities for students.”

These projects, proposed and initially implemented by retiring interim President de Witt, will be taken up and finished under the direction of incoming President Gibralter.

“These are wonderful investments and I look forward to seeing them through to fruition,” said Gibralter.