SPC Opens to Rave Reviews - Oregon State University Athletics

“This isn’t the same Oregon State when I first came on campus.”

Senior defensive tackle Pernnell Booth came to Corvallis in the fall of 2003 from Billings, Mont. Since that time he has witnessed the expansion of Reser Stadium (the east side & south end zone), four bowl games (all wins) and now the May 5 opening of the Sports Performance Center – the final piece of the $115 million second phase of “Raising Reser.”

“When the coaching staff brings recruits on campus they are going to be shocked at that weight room,” Booth added. “That facility is a big selling point for Oregon State.”

The SPC includes approximately 40,000 pounds of new equipment that was installed last week (April 28-May 2). The 20,000-square foot facility also includes an indoor track for speed and agility drills, state-of-the-art sound and video systems, 22 Olympic platforms, 22 power racks and adjustable benches, six sets of dumbbells, 45 pieces of cardiovascular equipment and free weights.

“It’s tight,” sophomore receiver Darrell Catchings said. “I can’t wait to really start working in it. I was amazed when I walked in for the first time.”

Jeff Macy, who has worked with USA Weightlifting, at the university level and in the NBA heads the Beaver Strength and Conditioning program.

“Without question the Sports Performance Center is among the best in the country,” Macy said. “We did exhaustive research when we were in the design phase and the finished project is better than we could have imagined.”

The SPC also includes a wrestling practice facility for the nationally recognized program.

“It’s phenomenal,” head wrestling coach Jim Zalesky said. “The facility provides everything we need to grow as a program. We are close to the weight room and we have ample mat space for practice. The Sports Performance Center is a big addition to our program.”

Another $40 million in facilities improvements are in the scheduling mode, including

exterior improvements to legendary Gill Coliseum, a new sports medicine facility, a boathouse for the rowing teams, construction of a track and the Student Success Center – a shared facility for all OSU students.

“We’re not standing still at Oregon State, we continue to move forward,” Director of Athletics Bob De Carolis said. “People and facilities make a difference and that’s evident by our recent successes on the playing fields and academically.”