Posted on Friday, December 13, 2019
Friday’s cold rain forced the groundbreaking ceremony for the college’s tri-court beach volleyball venue to be moved to Richter Gym in Callaway Education Building where the participants pretended to shovel dirt.
“We’re really going to have to use our imagination today to picture beach volleyball,” said Tripp Penn, Chair of the Building and Grounds Committee on the college’s Board of Trustees. “But we’re right next to where construction has already begun on the new courts. And it’s going to be great.”
Jennifer Claybrook, LaGrange College Athletic Director, said the sport’s popularity is exploding across the country.
“Beach volleyball has made the fastest transition from an emerging sport to a championship sport in NCAA history,” she said. “We are excited for it to join our 17 other NCAA Division III Panther teams.”
Claybrook expressed her gratitude to contractor Strack Inc.
“We are so pleased to partner with you on this project,” she said. “This will give women an incredible competitive opportunity, as well as enhance our current indoor volleyball program.”
The new venue is being made possible by Strack, Inc., a respected heavy civil and utility contractor based in Fairburn. Strack will provide construction services at cost. The courts will be completed in time for the Panthers’ first home contest, slated for March 6.
Board member Scott Malone said finding a contractor for the project was a challenge.
“After talking with other construction companies, we realized this was way out of our budget,” he said.
Recognizing the task was more of a grading project than a construction one, they turned to Strack.
“Strack not only agreed to do the project, but they offered to do it at cost,” he said. “That was a real game changer.”
Company president Johnathan Strack said the firm is happy to be partnering with the college.
“My dad, Joe, always said, ‘You get what you give in life,’ and that is just part of who we are,” he said. “We run the business as a family, and we try to treat everyone we meet in life as family. We are honored to get this project moving, and proud to be partnering with such a wonderful institution.”
Other vendors and subcontractors who are donating all or a portion of their work for the project include Concrete Supply Co., Adams Clearing, Georgia Erosion Solutions, Wright’s Hydroseeding, Harris Gray Engineering and Letel Metrics.
President Dan McAlexander noted that it is the perfect season to be celebrating the addition to Panther athletics.
“Today is an appropriate day for the college to receive this gift,” he said. “Indeed, this is a huge gift, and we are very grateful.”
Beach Volleyball Coach Madison Machurek calls the program an “exciting addition for our fans.”
“And I know that the sport’s addition will create valuable opportunities for the young women representing the Panthers,” she said.
Students in attorney Roberta Robinson’s law class recently held a mock trial to debate the 13th amendment.
With colder weather making a return this week, now is a good time to remind everyone about the college’s inclement weather closings. The easiest method to find information regarding winter-related schedule changes is to sign up for Regroup, which will send a message by email or text. (Sign up here https://lagrange.regroup.com/). Other ways include checking your college email and by visiting the college’s Web site at www.lagrange.edu, Twitter and Facebook accounts. The Communications and Marketing Office will notify radio and television stations in LaGrange, Atlanta, Columbus, Newnan and West Point of any schedule changes. Please do not call the media to inquire about closures. The stations will broadcast all closures numerous times each hour. Below is a listing of stations that will be contacted in the event of schedule changes:
RADIO: LaGrange: Eagle 102.3 FM, WLAG 1240 AM and WTRP 620 AM; Atlanta: Brite 98.1 FM, WGSE 720 AM, WCOH 1400 AM, WMKJ 96.7 FM, STAR 94 FM, WSB 750 AM, B 98.5 FM, 95.5 The Beat, Fox 97, and Kiss 104.1 FM; Columbus: WCGQ 107.3 FM, WKCN 99.3 FM and WGSY Sunny 100 FM; West Point: WCJM 100.9
TELEVISION: LaGrange: TV 33 WJCN; Atlanta: WAGA Fox 5, WXIA 11 Alive, WSB and WGCL; Columbus: WRBL and WTVM
This will be the last edition of @lagrange for 2019. We will resume publication on Jan. 3. Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
Football
Senior defensive back Peyton Haynes was selected to the D3football.com South All-Region third team. He is the first LC player named to the team since 2013. Last week, Haynes was chosen for the Division III AFCA All-America first team.
Women’s Basketball vs. Maryville, Mariotti Gym, 2 p.m.
Men’s Basketball at Maryville (Tennessee), 2 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 17
Men’s Basketball at Greensboro (North Carolina), 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 18
Men’s Basketball at Methodist, Fayetteville, North Carolina, 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 29
Men’s Basketball vs. Guilford at Emory Shootout, Atlanta, 2 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 30
Men’s Basketball vs. Wisconsin-Oshkosh at Emory Shootout, Atlanta, 2 p.m.
Women’s Basketball vs. Bridgewater, Mariotti Gym, 5 p.m.
There are only a few weeks left to make a tax-deductible gift that will support LaGrange College students in the new year. Go to lagrange.edu/give to make your gift before Dec. 31 and help make 2020 another great year for the young men and women on the Hill.
3 – William McCoy
Rachel Messerly
5 – Charles Williams
6 – Lisa Farrow
Jeff Geeter
Leslie Sebaugh
8 – Earl Chambers
Jennifer Claybrook
13 – Jenna Rice
15 – Matthew Strother
17 – Paul McMurray
Lanora Yates
19 – Daniel Mularz
20 – Katie Daniel
22 – Rebecca Nicks
31 – Marcia Brown
Check out “Never Satisfied: LC Baseball in 2020,” a film by Digital Creative Media and Film major and outfielder for the LaGrange Panthers, McKinley Erves.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0-yVSnzVsQ
Panthers’ Haynes honored – LaGrange Daily News, Dec. 7, 2019
https://www.lagrangenews.com/2019/12/07/panthers-hayne-honored/
Panther garners honors
Students hold mock trial
Time for inclement weather reminder
Category: Students, College
Keywords: beach volleyball football
