New Randolph wrestling facility opens on Bedford Avenue

More than 100 people gathered on Bedford Avenue earlier today to celebrate the opening of Randolph’s new wrestling facility. 

“It is such an exciting time to be at Randolph College, and we’re happy to partner with the community on projects such as this,” President Sue Ott Rowlands told the gathered crowd. “This athletic facility is the result of much hard work. With Randolph’s recent enrollment growth, it was necessary for us to find additional space to accommodate some of our programs, and this building was the perfect match.” 

The 4,700-square-foot building will house the College’s women’s and men’s wrestling programs, which are currently in their first year. The facility’s renovation was led by Penny Lane Properties, and the new space includes a practice facility, locker rooms, changing rooms, and offices.

Members of Randolph’s Board of Trustees attended the ribbon cutting, along with faculty, staff, students, representatives from the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance, and other community members and leaders. 

After the ceremony, the facility’s garage doors rose to reveal Wanda WildCat and both wrestling teams while music blared.

Both Ott Rowlands and Athletic Director Tom Galbraith spoke about the process of expanding the athletics department with the addition of four new sports over the last two years. 

“When we talked about wrestling, we ran into one roadblock, and that was a facility,” Galbraith said. “You are now standing in front of the answer to that question. This building not only represents the College’s commitment to wrestling, it represents the College’s commitment to the athletics department as a whole and our nearly 350 student-athletes who call themselves WildCats. Thirty of those this year will be wrestlers.” 

Women’s wrestling coach Brooke Richards, men’s wrestling coach Paul Biggs, and two student-athletes also spoke during the event, sharing their enthusiasm for their upcoming seasons. 

Megan Lucas, CEO and chief economic development officer of the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance, echoed that sentiment in her remarks. 

“This is my route to and from work every day, and I have been so excited watching this building transform into an amazing athletic center,” Lucas said. “We couldn’t be more proud to be home to Randolph College, a growing, thriving college in the heart of our region.”