Changes Are On the Way

Every year brings changes to the college campus and this coming year the athletic department has high hopes for many projects involving the sports teams and the fields.

Director of Athletics Christopher Ummer says there are many changes in the near future and many more potential projects that depend on funding.

The first project that many students may be aware of is the complete overhaul of the intramural/rugby/practice field near the stonehedge parking lot. The field is in rough condition and will be expanded to NCAA regulations for lacrosse and soccer.

The process is set to start in May and because the amount of work that the project will involve Ummer says "the field will be completely hands-off until August so everything has a chance to settle for the fall sports season."

Another project for the fall season is the removal of the varsity field soccer posts, each held in place by a large amount of concrete. They have been in place for over 30 years and will be replaced by new portable goals.

If budget allows there is also hopes to build a permanent structure for the referees and announcers to use at mid-field. "There have been many occasions when audio could not be brought out for a game because of weather conditions and this would hopefully resolve that issue," said Ummer.

The basketball teams have received team chairs for the sideline with the hornet logo on them for use in the upcoming season.

A few projects that are on the list, but also depend on what the budget allows involve, include both the softball and baseball programs. There has been discussion about adding bullpens to the baseball field, as well as building a small structure for use during games behind the backstop of the softball field.

At this time there are only two coaching changes for the fall. Jen Kirchoff Layn, head coach of the softball team, is an alumni of Lyndon State, will be stepping down.  Rebecca Armstrong Aubin, assistant coach for the women's soccer program, is also an alumni of Lyndon State. She has been a part of the program for five years and has decided to step down and focus on family and her career.

"It's easy to determine what is needed to be done but it is not always easy to find the time. For example the much-needed maintenance on the baseball and softball fields takes time and when our college season ends the fields move right on to being used by summer leagues," said Ummer.

The one large decision currently being evaluated that involves all sports fields is the issue of permanent seating at each location.