Renovated gym ready for Bay teams
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ESCANABA -- In anticipation of its new role as the home of the Bay College Norse mens and womens basketball teams, the Northern Lights YMCA's gymnasium was renovated over the summer. These teams' seasons will begin later this year.
"It's exciting… there's been a lot of hard work that has gone into this project from a lot of different people," Matt Johnson said of the project's completion. Johnson serves as Bay's athletic director and the head coach of the school's men's basketball team.
According to Johnson, renovation work on the gymnasium started shortly after Bay's graduation ceremony in May and continued through much of the summer.
"Work kind of wrapped up on it at the end of July," he said. Due to the scope of the project, the work took slightly longer than expected; however, Johnson said this did not cause any major problems.
Changes made as part of the renovation project included the refinishing of the gym's floor, replacement of the gym's bleachers and scoreboards, and the addition of wall pads, scoring table, and a PA system to the gym.
"Literally almost everything other than the shell of the gymnasium has been renovated and/or updated," Johnson said. He noted that, thanks to the athletic department's fundraising efforts, the project was funded by individuals and local and regional businesses. Additionally, the materials and labor associated with refinishing the floor were provided at a significant discount by Lockwood Hardwood Flooring of Ironwood.
Johnson said the newly-renovated gym should help attract new athletes to Bay.
"That's going to help us tremendously in recruiting our student athletes," he said.
Rae Drake Jr., head coach of Bay's women's basketball team, said Bay's current athletes are impressed by the facility.
"We had our first practice in here this morning -- they love this gym," he said.
Drake also said he is a fan of the school's color scheme, which is prominently featured in the renovated gym.
"Kelly green and royal blue -- it's awesome," he said.
Johnson thanked Bay's maintenance department, administration, and board, the YMCA's staff, Roy Ness Contracting and Sales, NK Electric, and everyone who sponsored and donated to the project for making the renovation possible.
"We absolutely could not have done this (without) all of their help and support," he said.