All the Hillsdale teams require extensive behind-the-scenes work to run smoothly, but the most involved and least-known may be the Chargers’ intricate laundry and cleaning systems.
The responsibility of cleaning the sports complexes at the college to provide a healthy environment for all Chargers to work out in falls on the shoulders of two different groups: the Hillsdale maintenance staff, and student workers.
The Hillsdale maintenance staff is supervised by Vicky Phetteplace, who has worked for the college since 1999. The staff, which is made up of 39 people, is split into crews of two people that cover one of three shifts. The same crew is responsible for cleaning both the George Roche Sports Complex and the Biermann Center during their shift, which can range from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., 2 p.m. to 11 p.m., or 10:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. However, the times are subject to change depending on which sports are in season.
The staff runs routine cleaning, and detail cleaning.
“Routine cleaning is the stuff you do every day,” Phettaplace said, “so disinfecting all the surfaces, and sweeping and mopping the floor. Detail cleaning includes the tasks that need to happen around once a week, like certain stairwells, entrance ways, and locker rooms that aren’t used every day.”
Phetteplace emphasized the importance of good routine cleaning because it prevents the immediate spread of germs and diseases in and around the gyms.
One of their biggest routine tasks tackled by the staff is the laundry service. The crews are in charge of washing the workout clothes, practice uniforms, pads, and jerseys for each Charger player.
“We do about 30 loads a day,” David Spence, a custodian at the complex said. “It’s a pretty continuous process because we’ll do cleaning then come back to do [laundry] throughout the day.”
The basement of the complex houses three washing and drying machines that each clean three loads at a time.
Spence said he enjoys working with the athletes and coaches.
“I’ve been stationed all over campus and this is the absolute best place to work,” Spence said. “The student-athletes have great personalities and are always really respectful.”
Spence’s crew partner, Tina Drummond, also enjoys her work at the complex.
“We’ll get to catch some of the practices and games and it breaks up the monotony,” Drummond said. “And the athletes will thank us for the laundry we do, especially when there’s a lot before they leave for away games.”
The coaching staff especially appreciates the work that the maintenance staff does at the complex. Head coach of the baseball team Eric Theisen called Spence and Drummond the “king and queen of this place.”
In terms of the student workers at the complex, they are in charge of maintaining the weight room and fitness center.
As the director of club sports, assistant baseball coach Brad Kocher is also in charge of the fitness centers. Kocher hires ten students for the lower level weight room as well as ten for the fitness center to look after the gyms and clean off the equipment. The students have shifts that range from two to five hours at a time.
“It’s really important to keep the machines clean to prevent all kinds of diseases,” Kocher said. “This is a beautiful, professional facility, and my goal is to have it feel like it’s a club, and that’ll happen if the machines are clean and fresh for each person. It’s getting a lot of usage and we want to keep that up.”
The student staff in the fitness center not only make sure the machines are cleaned off after each use and that the weights are put back properly like the basement weight room workers, but they also know how all of the machines work and can give out tips for working out. Additionally, they are all CPR certified in case of an emergency.
Sophomore Shannon O’Hearn, who worked in the basement weight room last year, said she enjoys working in the fitness center this year.
“I’m an exercise science major so it’s nice to be in the exercise scene and be able to look out for people and help out when I can,” O’Hearn said.
Phetteplace said that the staff realizes the importance of their work and that they take pride in it.
“Our work is always a work in progress,” Phetteplace said. “We respect the campus; we’re here to do a good job and make it a safe environment.”
