Plans underway for gymnastics, Golden Girls facility
The project is being funded by an anonymous donor.
Published Sept. 28, 2010
A groundbreaking ceremony marked the beginning of construction on a new Gymnastics and Golden Girls Practice Facility at 4:30 p.m. Friday behind Memorial Stadium.
“We had an anonymous donor step forward who had an interest in helping the gymnasts and Golden Girls who made a significant donation that allowed this project to move forward,” gymnastics coach Rob Drass said. “We had searched long and hard for someone to help make our dreams a reality.”
According to a news release, the facility will occupy 25,000 square feet and be divided into two parts. The gymnastics practice area will be 14,500 square feet, and the Golden Girls' practice area will be 3,000 square feet. The completion of the facility is scheduled for August 2011.
The ceremony included speeches from Drass, Athletic Director Mike Alden, representatives from The Konrath Group, Golden Girls Director Shannon Fry and current members of both the Mizzou Gymnastics and Golden Girls teams.
Those in attendance were divided into different groups to take pictures at the location of the construction site, holding shovels to symbolize the start of the construction. Former members of the two teams were also invited to take pictures with current members.
Drass said the facility will allow the gymnastics team to compete with the country’s top teams year after year.
“Right now we use the end of the indoor track as our practice space,” Drass said. “Our current practice space lacks the necessary soft landing pits that will be included in our new gym. We are very excited about the inclusion of the new pits.”
Drass said the pits will allow the team to train better, and could be used as a tool for future recruiting.
The Golden Girls will also use the facility.
“The Golden Girls have held studio rehearsals at the Columbia Performing Arts Center,” Fry said in an e-mail. “Wednesdays and Fridays, they rehearse with the band at the band practice field. The new facility will allow me to set rehearsal times that work the best for us, instead of scheduling with an outside facility.”
Fry said the team will now have the ability to work out or train at any time.
“Their first priority is always supporting and cheering for the athletic teams, but more studio time will help in preparation for national competition,” Fry said about the team.
According to the news release, the new facility will house offices for gymnastics and Golden Girls' staff, a lounge area for each squad, a training room, a cardio exercise area and storage areas, as well as two locker room and shower facilities.
“We will have storage for costumes and a dressing room for football game days,” Fry said. “That will allow consistency in the program and provide a ‘home’ for us we've never had.”