Harris Family Athletic Complex unveiled to GVSU community

Hundreds of 大峡谷管理人员 and student athletes along with program donors, supporters and guests gathered to officially dedicate the new home of the Grand Valley wrestling program — the 哈里斯家庭体育馆- 9月13日. 

Built as an extension on the Fieldhouse, the Harris Family Athletic Complex houses a three-mat gymnasium with seating for 300 fans, a weight room, an expansive athletic training room available for all varsity athletes as well as offices for 教练es and staff. 复杂的 also features space for academic advising and development offices, a refueling station, and a lounge and study space for student athletes.

The men’s wrestling season begins with a match against Cornerstone 大学11月1日. 

“I’m so excited about what men’s and women’s wrestling are going to do for Grand Valley and what they will bring to our athletic department and our institution,” said Director of 体育运动 Keri 贝克尔. “You’re sitting in this new space that’s been made possible by 在座的各位.” 

It was a substantial $3 million gift by 约翰•哈里斯, ’77, his wife, 黛安娜, ’76, and the Harris family — Thomas Harris, ’80, his wife, Tammi, and John and 黛安娜’s children, John and Meredith — that seeded the return of the men’s varsity program and the formation of a future 女子大学代表队. 

“It seems like not so long ago that we were dreaming about this 这一刻，就在这里，”菲洛梅娜·V总统. 曼说, 致哈里斯一家. “这是你最重要的礼物，你慷慨的礼物， 这让我们开始运作.”

Mantella said 约翰•哈里斯 was devoted to the cause from day one, meeting with her in her office and displaying a PowerPoint 他的演讲是为了让这个项目恢复活力.

The facility is named in honor of Jack and Dorcas Harris, parents of 约翰和他的弟弟托马斯. 哈里斯一家成为了 the Lakers' wrestling program when John joined the team in 1972. 

“The Harris family began this journey about 30 years ago,” said John Harris, a former Grand Valley wrestling star and a member of the 湖人运动名人堂. 

“We lost wrestling, and it was a grave disappointment to us, and we 说，‘我们必须把它带回来，’我们发誓要这么做. 现在, I’m back here in this space, I have to say it’s quite overwhelming. 

“我要感谢曼特拉总统. 她的家世很好 of wrestling, and she understands the value of what the sport brings,” 他说. 

Along with the Harris family, more than 300 donors contributed to finance the complex’s construction and support the programs’ foundations. 

乔伊·西姆科被聘为男子摔跤头 教练 今年5月，他在蒂芬执教了11个赛季 俄亥俄大学. 8月中旬, 杰克·肖特被介绍为女团长 摔跤教练. 

“Thank you to President Mantella and the Harris family,” Simcoe said. “没有你的远见，这一切都不可能实现. 谢谢大家 感谢你们让这一切成为可能. 

“Grand Valley is the pinnacle of Division II athletics and will continue to be, and we look forward to being a piece to add to that legacy.” 

In its 26-season span, men’s wrestling achieved national recognition competing in the National Association of Intercollegiate 体育运动 (NAIA) then at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 二级级别.

Grand Valley won the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) championship five times and finished runner-up 10 times. On the national level, the Lakers finished runner-up twice and in fourth 在NAIA全国锦标赛中获得三次冠军

More than 50 Laker wrestlers were named All-Americans, including John Harris, who was a two-time NAIA All-American and a 1988 inductee into 湖人名人堂.

要了解更多信息并帮助支持这些项目，请访问 博天堂官方.edu/giving/wrestling 或致电(616)331-6000.