New Facility Opened
By Christopher Marshall
WVU Sports Information Office
September 15, 2006
MORGANTOWN, W.Va.- The West Virginia University Wrestling Pavilion officially opened its doors Friday afternoon in a dedication ceremony in Morgantown.
Distinguished guests involved in today’s dedication included WVU President David C. Hardesty Jr., Director of Athletics Ed Pastilong, head wrestling coach Craig Turnbull, assistant wrestling coach and three-time NCAA Champion Greg Jones, and the Chairman of the Trustees for the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust, George R. Farmer Jr.
The Wrestling Pavilion, located behind the WVU Coliseum, was constructed and provided for West Virginia University by the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust in memory of J.W. Ruby and Hazel Ruby McQuain.
The 9,000 square foot facility includes four full-size wrestling mats, coaching offices, an expansive locker room, an aerobic room, an athlete lounge and a comprehensive computer and study area. The facility was built at a cost of $1.4.million.
“This is a beautiful facility that will allow our wrestling program to continue to compete at the highest level. We are very proud of this project and thankful to all those that made it possible,” Pastilong said.
Hardesty acknowledged the wrestling program’s history of success and noted that the Wrestling Pavilion will give the program the resources it needs to be competitive nationally well into the future.
“This program has a long tradition of which we can be especially proud. It has finished in the Top 25 six times since the NCAA began taking wrestling statistics, which is really a significant achievement for a program of this size. This facility will aide in continuing that tradition,” Hardesty said.
Turnbull recognized that the facility will honor all those wrestlers that came before it at WVU.
“We’ve got a facility for the first time that is representative and consistent with the quality of work and the quality of achievement of the young men that have committed themselves to excellence here throughout the years,” Turnbull said.
Turnbull also noted the effect the facility will have on his recruiting efforts.
“It is consistent with the quality of the aspirations of the people we are recruiting. The facility now represents what their aspirations, goals and dreams are. When recruits come in and see and feel a facility like this, it makes it a lot easier to sell the program,” Turnbull said.
Farmer explained that a major reason the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust wanted to become involved in the project was to support the guiding principles of wrestling.
“The principles of hard work, sacrifice and dedication that it takes to achieve success as a wrestler are the very same principles that it takes to become a success later on in life,” Farmer said.
With the new facility aiding in their efforts, Turnbull now believes the sky is the limit for his program.
“There is no ceiling in the program,” he said. “You can come in and pursue your own personal path of excellence and find out how good you can be. Whether it is an All-American or a National Champion there will be no ceiling.”
The wrestling team is set to move into the facility prior to the start of the upcoming season.
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