Championship appeal: Centre College celebrates grand opening of state-of-the-art athletic and wellness facility

Centre College celebrated on homecoming weekend with the grand opening of Champions Hall, a cutting-edge 135,000-square-foot facility highlighted by an Olympic-sized pool and indoor track and field complex.

“From the earliest stages, we wanted to create a state-of-the-art facility that would elevate the Centre experience for everyone,” said Centre President Milton C. Moreland. “We are only just beginning to see how Champions Hall will transform campus life and empower our students to reach new heights on the field of competition, in the classroom, and in their careers after Centre.” 

The pre-eminent facility of its kind in the region, Champions Hall is dedicated to serving the wellness of all students: Alongside the only indoor track in the Southern Athletic Association, there are yoga and meditation spaces. Just outside the Olympic-sized pool is an already popular grab-and-go eatery. 

It’s not just the campus community that’s benefitting from the opportunities offered by Champions Hall. The facility has already hosted numerous area track meets and sports camps, reinforcing the civic partnership between Centre and the Central Kentucky region. 

“Champions Hall will be an economic engine for our community,” Centre Director of Athletics and Recreation Brad Fields ‘98 said. “We already know there will be upwards of 5,000 to 10,000 additional guests who will come and compete in this facility as a result of Centre events and high school and regional meets. Hotels, restaurants and other businesses in our region will benefit.” 

When it comes to athletic excellence, Champions Hall is already living up to its name: Centre’s track and field teams swept the first-ever Southern Athletic Association (SAA) indoor meet in February with championships on the men’s and women’s side. Centre kicked off its inaugural swim and dive season in the sterling new natatorium this month. 

“Obviously, we’re the only team in the SAA to have an indoor facility like this, but I don’t know a lot of Division III school that have a huge facility like this. I think we’re stepping up our game,” said All-American runner Meghan Owens ’24. “I’m extremely excited to see what the program grows into, because I know it’s just the beginning of the progress that’s been made.”

Champions Hall also provides a new tool as Centre faculty and staff help young people become scholars by hosting a full schedule of classes, seminars, workshops and social events dealing with fitness, substance misuse, sexual assault prevention, nutrition, better sleeping habits and more. Faculty have used the facility for classes centered around the history of sports, mindfulness, sustainability and more.  

“Well-being extends beyond physical fitness,” said Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience Aaron Godlaski, whose course offerings include health psychology, mindful living and more. “Champions Hall, with its state-of-the-art athletic facilities and versatile open spaces, offers an inspiring environment for both teaching and learning.”  

The 750,000-gallon pool features ten 50-meter lanes and a moveable bulkhead. The facility also has new three-meter and one-meter diving boards for divers, making it one of the largest and most advanced facilities in the state. 

“This is a dream facility for us to have on campus. It will allow us take what has been a good program to the next level,” said Dean Brownley, head swim and dive coach.  “This new facility will allow us to host big meets, such as conference championships, bigger dual meets and possibly an NCAA Regional Diving championship meet.” 

Moreland and Fields wanted to ensure that Champions Hall benefitted all aspects of student life, specifically during a time when greater attention is being paid to how mental and physical health can help students flourish and affect performance and achievement. 

“We take a holistic approach to student development and try to structure experiences that resonate with what they’re learning in the classroom so that they can be successful as they leave college and carry good habits into adulthood,” Fields said.  

To say College leaders are excited about the future of Champions Hall is an understatement. The transformational potential such a facility holds is evident to all who talk about it.   

"This project has changed Centre’s campus and will change the lives of our students,” Moreland said. “Champions Hall was made possible by generous donors and countless hours of hard work to plan and build one of the premier facilities of its kind in the nation. The College is deeply grateful for all those who made this possible.” 

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Centre College is a premier national liberal arts college that serves approximately 1,400 students and provides a supportive community and an extraordinary, personal academic path to a meaningful life and career. For information concerning the College, visit our website at www.centre.edu. 

With a winning athletic tradition and commitment to academic excellence, Centre College competes in 25 intercollegiate sports with over 45% of the student body participating in one or more intercollegiate sport. The College also offers intramural sports and recreational opportunities for all students. The Centre Colonels compete in Division III of the NCAA and the Southern Athletic Association, recognized as one of the top Division III conferences in the country. To learn more about the Centre athletics program, visit CentreColonels.com.