By Zolan Kanno-Youngs, News Correspondent
Northeastern University’s sports fitness and strength and conditioning facilities have combined to form the alumni-funded Gries Center for Sports Medicine and Performance.
Donations from Michael and Deborah Gries (Class of 1977) paid for the renovations, which gives Northeastern club and varsity athletes access to new facilities equipped to better maintain health and conditioning.
Athletic Director Peter Roby said the couple has been making donations for the new facility over an extended period of time since he became athletic director. Roby refused to disclose the amount donated for the new center.
Renovations finished in January and the physical changes to the facilities are apparent in the first floor of the Cabot Center, where a glass wall and doorway replaced the cinderblock wall between the two formerly separate facilities.
The revisions of the new facility also include updated lobbies, more equipment in the workout area and a high definition television.
Freshman track runner Jasper McCoy said the changes gave a new feel to the Cabot Center.
“The new renovations make Cabot look more like a legitimate athletic facility,” he said.
But the new Gries Center is more than just a shiny new shell. For club athletes like middler mechanical engineering major and club basketball player Wellesley Broomfield, it means more accessibility to the high-end equipment available to varsity athletes.
“The one change I noticed besides just the presentation change, which looks great on the outside, is the new weight room,” Broomfield said. “[The new weight room is] more spacious and more workouts and circuits can be done in there. Also takes the club experience to another level; more official.”
Sports Performance Coach Michael Zawilinski said the new renovations will allow the Gries Center to service all varsity athletes and around 5,000 to 7,000 club athletes.
“It helps us give our knowledge and expertise to more kids on campus,” Zawilinski said.
Zawilinski said the change in the physical space came with new methods as well.
“The project’s more than just the room,” he said, “it’s the process. With the new resources we can help predict potential injuries.”
Roby also emphasized this aspect of the renovations.
“The best approach to preventing injuries is to evaluate before you get hurt,” he said.
Roby said the renovation allows the Athletics Department to implement a new program in which trainers run a series of diagnostic tests on incoming freshmen athletes. The tests determine students’ strength and fitness, giving trainers and coaches more information to help them improve Northeastern athletes.
For McCoy, athletic trainers like Zawilinski are just as important as the new facility they work in.
“The athletic and weight trainers are always doing a great job to ensure us athletes are healthy and it’s nice to see their workspace reflects their professionalism,” McCoy said.
Roby said the center is in line with the university’s values.
“The renovation sends a strong message for the value NU puts on students. It’s about setting up a healthy lifestyle for life after their athletic careers.”
