New fitness center awaits incoming Bethel students

When Bethel students return to campus, they will be greeted by a new fitness center.
The new center in the Harry and Mary Ann Crisp arena is about 5,500 square feet and opened Monday. It features treadmills, suspension trainers, recumbent bikes, strength machines of all types and free weight sections.
All of this is available for the students, staff and faculty of the university.
This facility will be open for students with their student ID’s from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and Sundays with a limited schedule.
Bethel athletic teams will be granted special access to our facility with approval of the fitness center manager.
Staff and faculty will be granted 24-hour access, but no family members will be allowed in the on-campus facility.
The Wildcat Health and Fitness Complex will remain open to the public with membership-only access.
Bethel has two new staff members — Ray Watkins, who will run the operations of the facilities, and Melissa Wilson, who will assist with future program and personnel training needs in the Wildcat Fitness facility in the days to come.
The new facility was built with two purposes in mind — to serve the needs of the growing student population and to get the faculty and staff moving toward a healthier lifestyle.
The facility is a part of the growing College of Health Science.
Ty Butler, director of operations for the College of Health Sciences said, “Our executive leadership with Dr. Prosser, Steve Prosser and Mike Parker has gone above and beyond to make sure Bethel has a fitness facility that can impact the health of our students and our employees. This facility is top notch and shows that Bethel doesn’t follow anyone, anymore.”
Bethel head baseball coach Rusty Thompson offered his perspective on the new center. “For the first time ever, our program and others here at the university can conduct our workouts with our entire squad,” he said. “Prior to the new center’s opening that has not been possible. We will be able to use workout programs from pro baseball teams for the first time. The center will also be a recruiting asset for us as well.” Published in The WCP 8,16.12

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