MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia will build a new athletics performance center for its Olympic sports programs on the site of the now-vacant WVU Natatorium thanks to a $10 million gift from the Hazel Ruby McClain Charitable Trust.
To build this kind of performance center, we needed a leadership gift as part of our Climbing Higher Campaign,” WVU athletic director Shane Lyons said in an official released. “I cannot begin to express my thanks and sincere appreciation to the trustees of the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust. They recognized the great need for a building like this and the major impact it will have on WVU’s student-athletes for decades to come.”
The Performance Center will become the home for strength and conditioning, training, rehabilitation and nutrition for all WVU Olympic sport programs. More than 400 student-athletes will benefit from the center and enhance WVU’s commitment to compete at a national level.
“It is exciting to imagine the future of our Olympic sports thanks to this generous and significant gift from the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust,” said university president Gordon Gee. “While we have had success, notably in rifle and soccer, this will provide West Virginia University student-athletes in every sport with the best possible facilities to develop their skills.”
With WVU’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams becoming tenants at the Mylan Park Aquatics Center, the existing Natatorium will be converted and renovated to encompass a multi-level performance center in excess of 21,000 gross square feet.
In addition to new weight, training and rehabilitation rooms, the facility also will feature extensive cardio and plyometric areas, hydrotherapy and cryotherapy sections as well as locker rooms to become an all-inclusive home for WVU’s Olympic sports. Multiple teams will be able to use the center at one time, alleviating scheduling concerns and providing time management flexibility in the areas of academics and team practices.
The facility will be used by the baseball, volleyball, gymnastics, rowing, golf, track and field, tennis, rifle, wrestling, swimming and diving, men’s soccer and women’s soccer teams.