Last Saturday, January 13, 2024, saw Cleveland Community College celebrate the grand opening of its newly renovated Yetis gym with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The atmosphere inside the gleaming gym was electric with excitement. In addition to the ribbon cutting, two thrilling basketball games took place that saw the CCC Yetis men's and women's teams take on the Bryant & Stratton College (Va) Bobcats. The Yetis women fell 55-84 and the men won 100-79.

The ribbon cutting took place between the games. The ribbon cutting was the culmination of work that has transformed the gym from a ho-hum space to a state of the art athletic and other activities edifice.

Extensive work was completed in the gym last year, most notably the installation of new hardwood flooring featuring the Yeti head. In addition, new locker rooms were built for both home and visitor teams, new flooring was installed on the walking track and a new Yeti Club room was constructed.

Much of the work was done by CCC's maintenance staff with help from a few contractors.

CCC public relations/media spokesperson Paula Vess explained the evolution of the gym.

"In 2021, the first phase of the Yeti Athletics Complex was completed with the construction of a new baseball field. A new softball field was completed a little more than a year later. The softball field was finished during the off-season in 2022, and we held a grand opening in February 2023.

The Board of Trustees approved adding volleyball and men's and women's basketball in May 2022, which created the need to completely renovate the gym. At the time, the gym floor was covered in carpet, there were no bleachers, and although there were men's and women's locker rooms next to the gym, they weren't equipped to meet the needs of competitive teams and there was no visitor locker room."

Key spaces in the gym are named in honor of key CCC personalities and loved ones.

The named spaces in the gym are: The Chloe and Gracie Langley Scoreboard was named by Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees Allen Langley to honor his daughters. The Joe and Terri King Scoreboard was named by Trustee Wayne King to honor his parents. The King Family Locker Room (home team locker room) was named by Trustee Wayne King to honor his family. The Berry Family Yeti Club Room was named by Trustee Tony Berry to honor his family. The Charles Carrigan Memorial Wall was named by Trustee Betty Carrigan in memory of her husband.

Several dignitaries shared their thoughts on the new gym project. Remarks were rendered by CCC President Dr. Jason Hurst, Board of Trustees' Chair Bill Turpish, Cleveland Community College Foundation Board of Directors Chair Steve Padgett, and the

donors who named several features in the gym.

"This journey began in spring 2022 when the Board of Trustees approved adding women's volleyball and men's and women's basketball, along with track and field and eSports," said Hurst. "A year ago, this gym looked drastically different, Now, the gym is filled with athletes, excitement and cheering fans. It brings new life to our campus. Today, we celebrate an historical occasion with the gym's grand opening."

Padgett thanked those who contributed to the gym project. "It was the great generosity of the donors who made this possible," he said. Langley spoke about the impact the new gym will have. "This is an investment in all of our students," he said. King added his thoughts on the forward thinking that made the gym happen. "It's amazing what happens when people have a vision," he said. "The sky is the limit for this institution."

Overall, the day was an upbeat milestone in the ever-evolving growth of CCC and the positive impact it has on our region.