With the construction of the new Margot V. Biermann Center on Hillsdale College’s campus, its facilities have caught up with and even surpassed other GLIAC facilities.
“With the improvements Hillsdale has made, they’ll jump into the upper quartile,” GLIAC Commissioner Dell Robinson said.
And that’s an accomplishment, according to Robinson, who said the GLIAC has some of the best facilities in the region and even in the nation.
“In the nation we rank in the upper quartile — probably the top third,” Robinson said. “Anytime you do something to improve Olympic sports facilities in our conference that’s helpful.”
Robinson commended schools such as Grand Valley State University, Northwood University, and Saginaw Valley State University for their sports facilities.
“Whether you like it or not, you have to give a nod to Grand Valley for investments made,” he said. “It stands out. They probably have the most facilities that are up-to-date.”
Grand Valley opened its indoor turf and track building in 2009. A 300-meter indoor track surrounds a turf field in the center.
Hillsdale’s Biermann Center, on the other hand, is a 200-meter track encircling four tennis courts.
“Ours is a different facility with a different purpose,” Hillsdale’s Athletic Director Don Brubacher said. “We have the best 200-meter track facility in the conference. And we have one of the best 200-meter flat tracks in the nation.”
A similar track and tennis facility was built recently at Tiffin University.
“Ours has a wider radius and wider running lanes, and our tennis surface will be considered a better competition surface,” Brubacher said.
Senior tennis player Brittany Parks said that though they most often play outside during their fall season, the Biermann Center courts have to be some of the best in the conference. And, she said, the team will now be able to practice year round.
“It will be so nice to actually be able to practice in the winter months,” she said. “We ran and lifted weights all winter long.”
Parks said that Northwood’s outdoor tennis courts were probably the best in the conference, mirroring the Northwood tennis team’s success as conference champs in four of the past five seasons.
The Biermann Center was built as part of the first phase of renovations at the sports buildings. Brubacher said that Hillsdale is focusing on the indoor facilities in the first phase and then will move on to the outdoor facilities.
The college began renovations in the Roche Sports Complex this spring to create a two or three story student fitness center including four new hardwood courts.
“I am very excited about all the new plans for the sports complex,” senior volleyball player Lauren Grover said. “Poles that ascend from the floor and more accessible nets will make setting up and taking down much easier.”
Another renovation the athletic department hopes to complete is the construction of an indoor turf building. Those two remaining projects of phase one are projected to cost $2.2 and $2.7 million respectively.
And once the indoor facilities are more up-to-date, Brubacher said he hopes to address the outdoor facilities.
“We are looking for options that expand our outdoor exercise space especially for club and IM sports,” he said. “We want people out there using the space.”
Brubacher said that Hillsdale does not try to copy other schools’ facilities and instead tries to renovate according to its specific needs.
“It’s been a matter of trying to determine what facilities will best benefit the Hillsdale College community,” he said.
And Hillsdale athletes consistently said they like competing at their home facility the best.
“Muddy Waters stadium is honesty, definitely my favorite place to play in our league,” senior quarterback Anthony Mifsud said. “I think we get great game day environments. Other teams’ players — including Grand Valley — have told me how loud it gets at our home games.”
Mifsud also acknowledged that Ashland and Grand Valley have nice stadiums with great game-day environments.
Grover agreed that home matches are the most enjoyable.
“I love our court as it is right now,” she said. “The high ceilings are great for volleyball and the lighting is much better than other GLIAC schools.”
