Champions Hall grand opening, pool dedication and more: Everything you need to know about homecoming weekend
Centre College Homecoming 2024 was one for the history books.
The College dedicated the 150,000-square-foot Champions Hall athletic and wellness facility, which included naming dedications to those instrumental in the completion of the building. Kentucky Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman ’04 was on hand for the ribbon cutting, alongside College President Milton C. Moreland, track and field student-athlete Madjo Doumbia ’25 and Director of Athletics and Recreation Brad Fields ’98. The ceremony was capped off with a flyover by Keith Tarter '91 and his Centre-gold airplane.
The Olympic-sized pool deck was named after Dean Brownley, who has served as the Centre swim and dive head coach for more than two decades. The Swem Multipurpose room honors the Swem family and Lisa Swem ’79, a dedicated supporter of the College who has served on the President’s Advisory Council and as president of the Centre Alumni Board of Directors.
The Champions Hall field house was dedicated in February, named to honor longtime track and field head coach Lisa Owens. The track opened with the inaugural indoor meet for the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) conference earlier in 2024.
Opening night of Centre Homecoming saw four new Distinguished Alumni honored: Briana Lathon Bluford ’15, Victoria Gillenwater ’89, Steve Leyland ’76 and Lisa Swem ’79. Centre Athletics announced five new members of its Hall of Fame: Kate Anderson ’09 (women’s soccer), Paige Baechle ’14 (women’s basketball), Thomas Britt ’08 (men’s basketball), Ben Hume ’12 (football) and Chelsea Klein ’14 (field hockey).
Alumni were eager to move tailgates to the bell tower plaza, a connecting location between Champions Hall, Crounse Hall, Young Hall, Sutcliffe Hall and Andy Frye Stadium. The plaza was bustling with festivities, including food and beverage vendors along with student organizations, alumni groups and more.
Following the Champions Hall dedication, Centre football kept spirits high with a homecoming victory against defending Southern Athletic Association champion Trinity (Texas), 24-12. The Colonels wore black uniforms for the first time since 2011 in the win.
At halftime of the football game, seniors Will Long and Presley Swiney were named homecoming royalty.
Inside Champions Hall, the Centre swim and dive teams hosted the first-ever regular-season swim meet in the new facility. The teams earned a split against the University of Evansville, a NCAA Division I program. The women’s squad won 162-132, while the men fell 189-105.
See more photos from Homecoming 2024, including class reunions, alumni ceremonies, dedications, hot glass demonstrations and more on social media.
