By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
The majority of the students arrived on campus last week and classes get
underway this week at Barton Community College. While activity generally slows
down during the summer at the college, Barton Athletic Director Trevor
Rolfs was busy keeping the momentum going for major improvements to the
athletic department.
With no structural additions to the main athletic building since 1995, Rolfs is
moving forward with raising funds for a $16.8 million construction and
renovation project.
"We're going to try to do this as much, if not all, with private dollars," said Rolfs. "That's great, and I'm excited about that. We're going to continue to move forward with it. I'm going to share our vision...the why and what for. I can tell you, we've had some sincere interest so far and commitments."
The plan calls for a major addition to the south of the main gym facility that
would include a new training and fitness facility, wrestling room, cheer and
dance space, eSports facility and Hall of Fame room. The current Hall of Fame
room is housed in the Cougar Den, a somewhat hidden room near the basketball
gym’s press box.
"In what other school, is the Hall of Fame in a closet, so to speak?" said Rolfs. "That's where we're celebrating the rich tradition and history of Barton athletics...in a room you have to go into the pool, up the stairs and through a lobby. We need to be celebrating the success of the college."
Since the construction of the Kirkman Student Activity Center in 1995, Barton
has added nine sports and roughly 150 student athletes.
Proposed improvements...
New Construction:
1. Major addition to the south of main gym facility that would include a new strength training facility, cardio fitness facility, wrestling room, cheer and dance practice space, eSports facility, Hall of Fame room, trophy cases, classrooms, locker rooms, offices and storage space
2. Addition of three tennis courts (to make six total) and awning area
3. Locker rooms, press box and restrooms at track/soccer complex
4. Press box facility at softball complex
5. Storage shed/lookout building at golf driving range
Transformation of Current Facilities:
1. Current Cougar Den becomes swim coach offices
2. Current volleyball locker room becomes men's basketball office/storage
3. Current training room becomes women's basketball locker room/restroom facility
4. Current women's locker room becomes volleyball locker room
5. Current P-4A classroom becomes women's basketball offices/storage
6. Current weight room becomes athletic training room
7. Current assistant athletic director/sports information director offices becomes officials locker room
8. Current P-5A classroom becomes storage and tennis locker room
Remodel of Current Facilities:
1. Men's basketball locker room
2. Women's basketball locker room
3. Concessions area and west main hallway