This summer, Goshen College began renovations of its outdoor tennis facility to upgrade the quality of the courts. According to The Globe, the construction project started at the beginning of August. The renewal is expected to be completed by Oct. 10, the date of the GC tennis home opener.

The official decision to replace the courts was made in the spring of 2024, and final approvals were issued in June of this year. The project has been supported by the Connected Cause campaign – one of the priorities being updated athletic facilities.

“We determined that [the renovation] was a natural alignment with our campaign and our athletics priority,” said Jodi Beyeler, the vice president for institutional advancement. “We knew that this project would connect with some of our alumni and friends, particularly those who are passionate about tennis at Goshen College, and that gave us the confidence that it should be part of the campaign,” Beyeler said.

In previous years, the GC tennis team was forced to relocate practices and home matches to other local tennis facilities due to the state of the old tennis courts. These locations include Northridge High School, Northwood High School, and Goshen Junior High.

Blanka Bodo, a junior tennis player, explained how practicing  at off campus facilities is difficult as an athlete. “We’re practicing two hours every day, plus the 20 minutes there and back … so it’s tough,” she said.

In addition, starting this school year, GC tennis will now compete as a spring sport, as opposed to a fall sport. According to Jon Bemisderfer, head tennis coach, this change of seasons “accelerated the timeline for getting [the courts] completed in time, however, it wasn’t the driving force.”

Brian Mast, director of facilities, stated that the old courts were “beyond the point of repair.” Mast continued “There were some issues in the base under the courts from when the lights were installed that could only be fixed by removing the asphalt completely. The base was compacted, and new stone was added to eliminate the issue on the new courts.”

Since construction began, the old pavement has now been ripped up and new asphalt has been laid. Currently, poles for the outer and inner fencing are being installed, which will be followed by new chain-link fence. 

Bemisderfer said that the old courts were “virtually unplayable as the cracks kept growing.” Last season, the courts were power-washed to remedy small problems, but for him, this “only delayed the inevitable.” In Bemisderfer’s view, this construction will provide several advantages for the GC tennis teams, such as providing a safer, more sustainable surface to play on.

Bodo reiterated how important the renovation will be for the success and well-being of the team. “In the last two years, our courts were damaged and there were cracks, and we couldn’t play,” she said. 

Bodo went on to explain how the cracks in the old courts not only impacted the quality of play but also the risk of injury while playing. “Our ankles could have, you know, gone out, there would have been some injuries.” 

Bodo expressed that the team is very happy about the new facility. “We can play on our home courts, and we don’t have to travel that much. And here we get all the support from Goshen College, and everyone can attend our matches,” she said.

The new facility will feature eight courts, instead of the former 10, to ensure the proper distance between courts, in order to prevent athletes from running into each other during play. The new renovation will also include a new storage building with electricity and a water fountain. New bleachers on paved concrete and additional seating on the side of the Octavio Romero student apartments. The courts will be painted “Maple Leaf purple,” according to the most recent rendered image released by the college.

The college has employed the help of several contracting businesses to construct the new facility: Quality Excavating, Niblock, Leslie Coatings, Mechanical Man, Legacy Fence and Decks and Mill Construction.

As reported by Mast, the renovation is “on schedule and moving along well.” He also said that there have not been any significant challenges so far.