John Lance Arena to receive makeover with help of generous gift

Times have been exciting for Pittsburg State athletics in the 2011-2012 school year — between the Gorillas winning their first national title in football since 1991, the record-breaking season of the women's basketball team, the sensational individual performances of track and cross country athletes, the softball team tying a school record with 15 straight wins and freshmen Lizzy Jeronimus and Justice Valdivia winning conference Freshman of the Year in their respective sports of women's basketball and men's golf.

"We are garnering national attention," PSU president Steve Scott said. "It's been pretty clear from the last year. What a year we've had. I kind of have to pinch myself every once in a while and say, 'Did we really just have that year?' And, we did. It's a pretty amazing situation. But our students, our faculty, our coaches, community, all of us really share in the successes of this year."

Pittsburg State fans Alan and Roberta Whetzel helped add to the excitement Tuesday morning by officially donating a $1.2 million leadership gift to the renovation of John Lance Arena.

It's all in keeping with athletic director Jim Johnson's vision of making Pitt State "the best of the best" and it's something deeply personal for the donors. The Whetzels met on a basketball trip in 1958 — Alan played for and later coached basketball at Pitt State with legendary coach John Lance and Roberta was a cheerleader, heavily active on campus and a zealous Pitt State athletics supporter.

"We had a chance to meet Alan and Roberta a couple years ago and their vision, their passion, for renovating the Weede and making it a state-of-the-art basketball and volleyball facility, it's finally come true," Pitt State head women's basketball coach Lane Lord said. "It's a day we've been waiting for and we're so excited. Our players are tickled to death and it's a great day for Pittsburg State."

This leadership gift helps initiate the first phase of a three-phase plan to construct a new Weede Athletic Complex and Indoor Event Facility.

The first phase started with the removal of the old hardwood floor in John Lance Arena, which had been around since 1996. Then, before the start of the next school year and the next volleyball season, comes a new maple floor, three basketball courts and as many as seven volleyball courts for a grand total of 31,000 square feet of hardwood. New lower-level seating will be added. It will be a brand new experience for coaches, players and fans.

Coaches and players of the affected sports were present on Tuesday for the presentation. Superlatives were flowing in every interview.

Despite a 9-22 overall record and 6-12 mark in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association in 2011, PSU head volleyball coach Ibraheem Suberu speaks like a man who graduates one player — Kelley Bugler — and whose Gorillas have signed eight players to go along with all their returning talent.

“Oh, it's exceptional,” Suberu said of the renovation project. “We're grateful to Alan and Roberta for a lot of work and time, Dr. Scott, athletic director Jim Johnson and the community for the tremendous support they've given to this project. We're very excited. It's a good time.”

Plus, any volleyball coach worth their clipboard and whistle must appreciate possibly having seven volleyball courts, even though there may not be enough coaches on staff to have one at every court.

“We're excited,” Suberu said. “We have a brand new facility to compete in and it gives us a great opportunity to have great training time. Our kids will definitely have more opportunities to have places to work and we can spend more time with our team members because we'll have access to multiple floors to train sub-groups, individuals and team training. I believe that all of our players currently here, incoming recruits, all of us together, are quite excited.”

In his second year as head coach of the men’s basketball team, Kevin Muff saw the Gorillas pull off two minor upsets in the MIAA Tournament against Central Missouri and Northwest Missouri before falling one win short of a berth in the NCAA Tournament in the conference title game against Washburn.

“Just a mixed bag of emotions, from excitement to anticipation to just being blessed,” Muff said. “As an university, we're very fortunate to have Dr. Scott and the type of alumni and boosters who are willing to give so much of themselves to help these students and student-athletes be successful. I think that's the best way to put it. To me, they epitomize what being a booster for an university is about. Their intentions are for the students.”

JaVon McGee, a junior forward from Kansas City, enjoyed his best season in a Pitt State uniform with a team-high 13.0 points per game, as well as 6.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals. He scored 25 points in the first round win over Central Missouri, playing in front of family and friends at Municipal Auditorium.

“I'm very excited,” McGee said. “I can't wait to see it and compare it to some of the other gyms in the MIAA. To me, the best arena is Fort Hays because of the way it circles around and it just looks like a real arena. From the pictures and the books and everything else, it just looks like we're going to have one of the best arenas in the MIAA.”

Both hoops programs at Pitt State are rising and continued the excitement on campus and in the community generated by the historic football team.

“Maybe it epitomizes the direction we're headed,” Muff said. “Lane's team took huge strides this year, what a terrific season, and we took strides. I wouldn't say huge strides but we took little steps forward and we're continuing to look at that success. It's great timing for this to be happening.”

The Pitt State women broke multiple school record during a season which culminated in an Elite Eight appearance in San Antonio. Pitt State went from no NCAA Tourmanent wins in school history to three and its first-ever regional title with victories over Central Missouri, Northeastern State and Emporia State in Topeka. The Gorillas lost to eventual national champions Shaw.

“Everybody's a team player and that's what makes our athletic department so great,” Lord said. “To be able to have the opportunity to practice with all the goals and wall-to-wall wood and just having our own environment where we can concentrate and work on fundamentals, it's just an unbelievable time we've all been waiting for.

“I know our players have, our coaching staff, and I know our fans are looking forward to a comfortable place to come watch games. We're going to have state-of-the-art seating and just unbelievable game atmosphere that will hopefully bring in more fans because they'll be comfortable every night.”

Sophomore point guard Alexa Bordewick helped Pitt State go 27-6 this past season and she averaged 7.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and made 48 3-point shots, second-best on the Gorillas behind fellow guard Drew Roberts.

“I'm super excited,” Bordewick said. “I think it's awesome that we have donors that are willing to spend this money on us and let us play in an awesome place. Playing in a new facility will motivate us to play even that much better.”

One head coach mentioned his renovation project observation.

“I've been out there every step of the way,” Muff said. “I've watched them when they cut it up to putting the cement down to now they're putting all the electrical wiring in. It's kind of neat to see it all come together.”