Seeing Really Is Believing

Watson, WLS hope to gain by upgrading

By RICK THORP
In the world of college athletics, appearances do matter.

Whether it’s at a sprawling campus like West Virginia or Ohio State, or the more quaint ones found throughout the Ohio Valley, the state of a school’s athletic facilities have taken on more importance in recent years.

‘‘Athletics is kind of the front porch of a college or university,’’ said Jim Watson, athletics director at West Liberty State College.

‘‘They’re our most visible entities.’’

Student-athletes, especially in the tri-state area, have plenty of choices as to where to continue their academic and athletic careers — from NCAA Division I down to the NAIA level.

And with college recruiting so ultra-competitive these days, the way an athletic facility looks to a prospective recruit could sway their decision one way or another.

Four of the colleges and universities in the Ohio Valley — Wheeling Jesuit, West Liberty, OUE and Bethany — have made major upgrades in recent years. And on the Hilltop, the changes seem to be coming at a rapid pace.

The West Liberty State College Athletics Department is in the midst of completing a myriad of projects that have resulted in almost all of its facilities receiving upgrades.

Currently, the focus is on Russek Field — home of coach Roger Waialae’s football team.

When the Hilltoppers take the field for their home-opener Aug. 30 against Edinboro, players, as well as fans, will notice some marked improvements to the facility.

The most-noticeable change will be to the field, which will consist of an artificial surface for the first time.

‘‘I think a lot of kids today are playing on turf and they’re used to it and like it for the most part,’’ Watson said.

‘‘Almost everyone in the (West Virginia Conference) has turf now.’’

Crews have been working since spring installing the new surface, which Watson said is state-of-the-art.

‘‘We’re using a product called Mondo Turf,’’ he explained. ‘‘It’s very environmentally friendly.’’

Mondo Turf, which is being used at many facilities at this summer’s Olympics in Beijing, utilizes an Ecofill infill system that eliminates rubberized pellets from flying up from the surface when used.

‘‘The site work is just about finished,’’ Watson said. ‘‘(Crews) still have to put the rubberized surface on the track and then we will be ready for the installation of the turf later this month. That will take about three weeks.’’

But a new field surface isn’t the only change being made to the venerable stadium. Watson said there will also be a plethora of attractive fencing and landscaping added.

‘‘We’re going to have hedge rows like they do at Georgia,’’ he said. ‘‘We think that will be a nice feature.’’

Plans and funding are also being finalized for the final phase of the stadium project.

‘‘We’re a couple of years from having the whole process completed,’’ Watson said.

Russek Field sits next to the crown jewel of West Liberty’s athletic facilities — the Academic, Sports and Recreational Complex — which houses, among other things, the school’s successful men’s and women’s basketball programs.

Crews recently finished refurbishing the basketball court there.

‘‘We will be starting our ninth season on the floor and it’s customary every eight to 10 years to sand it down to the bare wood and reseal it and redecorate it,’’ Watson said.

Crews also had to add a new men’s 3-point line, per a change approved last year by the NCAA. The new arc, which lays 20 feet and 9 inches away from the basket, is a foot longer than the line which was in use for almost 20 years. The women’s 3-point line remains the same.

New WVC logos were also added to both sides of the floor.

‘‘We’re protecting our investment,’’ Watson said of the floor improvements.

While improvements to the college’s athletics facilities are a boost to the college’s sports programs, Watson believes the entire university community benefits.

‘‘I think it helps all the way around,’’ he said. ‘‘It helps the coaches recruit, and it also helps with the image of the institution.’’

Plans are also in the works to construct a new softball diamond, which will be located at the current site of the football practice field adjacent to Russek Field. Watson said there is no timetable for the completion of that project.

‘‘We’re currently playing softball on a field that we don’t own,’’ Watson said, noting the ground is owned by the West Liberty Cemetery Board.

‘‘So, it just made sense to utilize the ground that we have.’’

Watson said he has thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of trying to help develop the plans to improve the West Liberty facilities. And he added the school’s administration, led by president Robin Capehart, has thrown its support behind the endeavors.

‘‘At the end of the day, when you step back and see the kids getting to utilize these facilities for many years to come, it gives you a sense of pride,’’ Watson said.