KU Swimmers & Divers Return to School with New Home
Aug. 26, 2011
LAWRENCE, Kan. – A summer of anticipation is finally over as members of the Kansas Swimming and Diving team are for the first time getting a sneak peak of their brand new locker room inside Robinson Natatorium. Construction began on the $200,000 project this past May and was funded by donations from the friends of Jayhawk Swimming and Diving
The revamped locker room features 32 new sit-in lockers that are 18-inches wide, with under-seat and overhead storage as well as redone floors coated with epoxy and a Jayhawk logo in the middle. A sofa and chairs will accompany the lockers to serve as a gathering place for student athletes and coaches before and after meets.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have the new locker room and it is a big upgrade for us,” said head coach Clark Campbell. “We really appreciate all the donors and supporters of the program, who without their help could not have completed this project.”
Another part of the project called for a new restroom, seven individual showers as well as a training area with an ice machine. Just beyond the locker area, there are two swimsuit dryers as well as 14-inch vanity mirrors with under counter storage. A brand new 40-inch flat screen TV also sits on the wall in between the lockers and the training area.
“Those types of amenities are important because the athletes spend so much time at the pool,” Coach Campbell said. “Having a place they can call their own will really help improve team dynamics because it will enable them to hang out and build important team bonds.”
“The new locker room is incredible,” said senior captain and swimmer Shannon Garlie. “”It is definitely going to give us some motivation and excitement going into the season.”
The Jayhawks will officially move into their new home, Friday, September 30th during their exhibition Intrasquad meet. The meet will also serve as the official dedication of the new facility. Their first regular season home meet is scheduled for Saturday, October 29, as KU hosts the University of Illinois.
Information on the remodeled locker room as well as Robinson Natatorium can be found here: http://www.kuathletics.com/facilities/kan-robinson-natatorium.html
