With the arrival of the 2018 academic year, the Southwest Baptist University Athletics Department is excited to announce the re-opening of its newly renovated Athletics Weight Room! As firm believers in our mission of giving SBU student-athletes the very best possible experience from top to bottom, having a top-notch facility to improve strength and conditioning became a must. Southwest Baptist University sports some of the premier facilities in Division II Athletics and our athletes deserved a weight room that was on par with everything else that Southwest Baptist University has to offer.

The renovation project, which began in May of 2018 lasted nearly two months and transformed every aspect of the weight room. No surface inside was left untouched. From equipment, to accessories, to the structural attributes of the room, everything was evaluated for improvements and either refurbished or replaced new. Local vendors came in and offered design improvements and assisted in making the projects vision come to life. Input was sought from all of the varsity sports teams on campus and the end result became a facility crafted to meet the needs of our athletes. Additionally, the interior design team implemented a bold and inspirational aesthetic that pays tribute to all our men's and women's programs. Head Men's Soccer Coach Rick Daum said, "We wanted our athletes to be reminded that they are working for something that goes beyond themselves when they step into the weight room."

Head Coach Kelsey Keiser of the Women's Basketball Team expresses excitement as well. "Walking into the new weight room facility immediately inspires greatness from our athletes," said Coach Keiser. "Our team can't wait to begin using the new equipment. As a coach, I am excited about how the intangible qualities such as the increased air flow, improved lighting, and amplified speaker system will create an environment of excellence for team workouts. A huge thank you to our Athletics Administration for making this project possible for our student-athletes."

"The weight room looks awesome! But even more important than how it looks – is how the team designed the room and made strategic, cost-effective upgrades," Athletic Director Mike Pitts said. "This summer, they invited me over a few times – and each time I came away with two takeaways. The first takeaway is how hard Casey, Chris, Dalton, Mason, and Rick worked on the project. Thank you for the long hours you invested over there. Tony, Frank, and Robbie – from SBU's Physical Plant - really supported the project as well. Thank you! I've heard great feedback from our student-athletes – and they appreciate it! The second takeaway is how wisely they used our resources in efficient, functional, strategic ways. It's another example to the Bearcat Family that when you invest in our programs – your resources are going to be used efficiently to help our student-athletes have the best possible experience."

See for yourself pictures from the first reveal of the weight room!