OCR Text |
Show SPORTS New fitness center on schedule for fall '06 opening Hilltop Times H O October 20, 2005 • O BY SHAD WEST Hilltop Times staff Fitness Center Features If Mother Nature continues to cooperate, the new fitness center will have a structural roof deck enclosure before the season's first snow allowing construction crews to begin interior work. Okland Construction broke ground for the $9.3 million project earlier this spring and expects to complete the project in the fall of 2006. Okland Construction representative Matt Gygi said that the crew of 43 tradesmen and five administrative personnel has the project at 30 percent complete with all the underground utilities including water and sewer complete. The gym's exterior walls are up, with crews pouring concrete for the floor. The rest of the facility's walls are halfway up. "We are very pleased with our progress," Mr. Gygi said. "We have had 123 days without a work related accident and have kept to the schedule even with some design changes." While fitness centers around the Air Force are normally single story, Hill's new fitness center will be two stories to meet facility program requirements. "The project's site was selected before construction began," said Air Force Project Manager Richard Nehring. "With limited land to build on we had to move forward with a two story concept." The new facility sits adjacent to the Bubble, where the old indoor running track is cur- $9.3 million facility 42 ft. rock climbing wall 2 NCAA regulation size basketball courts 5 racquetball courts Separate men's and women's steam rooms and saunas Elevated indoor running track (1/10 mile track) Expanded sports store and juice bar User friendly daily use lockers (15"x18"x36") 3000 SF exercise instruction classroom 2 - 800 SF exercise instruction classrooms Artist's rendition of new Hess Fitness Center rently located, and will include an ultra-modern design with state-of-the art features and incredible views. A new outdoor resilient rubber running track will be built outside and across 11th street and will feature six running lanes. This track will encircle a new athletic field with outdoor lighting. The track is slated to be complete in either late spring or early summer of 2006. The fitness center staff is excited about the new facility and think their customers will share their enthusiasm. "Our patrons will be amazed with the features of the new facility," Hess Fitness Center director Karen Wright said. "It will include two NCAA regulation-size basketball courts, expanded locker rooms with steam rooms and saunas, an elevated indoor running track and a rock climbing wall." The Health and Wellness Center's staff will join the fitness center staff in the new 70,000-square-foot facility that will boast multiple class- rooms and office space for personnel. The new facility will also double the square footage devoted to free weight training and cardiovascular equipment. Current plans also include an expanded juice bar and adding two more racquetball courts - bringing the total to five. More space and new equipment is vital to the new fitness center, but the building's exterior and interior design will help make working out a pleasant experience. "It's hard to imagine right now what the total environment will be like," Mr. Nehring said. "But when the facility is complete the views will be incredible. Patrons will be able to enjoy tons of natural lighting through the huge windows and skylights. We've needed a new fitness center on this base for a long time. Team Hill won't be disappointed." In 1999, the Air Force assessed fitness centers service wide, and developed a road- Co-located with HAWC map to replace or renovate many of them. Under that plan, the Air Force slated Hill's construction for fiscal year 2005. Fit to Fight and the push for civilian employee fitness is part of what fueled the construction. Since its inception, the new civilian fitness program has driven usage of the Hess up 45 percent, pushing the bubble to its limit and bursting the 37,000-squarefoot Hess at the seams, said the staff. Air Force hoopster to tour with pros BY 1ST LT. TERESA SULLIVAN __ :354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs EIELSON AFB, Alaska (AFPN) — A vehicle operator here never thought she'd be touring with professional basketball •players — especially after choosing the Air Force over a pro ea: reerin2003. However, that will be the case in two weeks when Airman 1st Class Naomi Mobley, from the 354th Logistics Readiness Squad.ron, will be will be touring with a Women's National Basketball Association exhibition team, called Everyone's Internet, for the ;Houston Comets — one of the teams she tried out for in 2002. "This is a great opportunity and I'm excited to have the chance to go play with professional athletes," said Airman Mobley, a 6foot-3-inch power forward. She'll be the only non-pro on the team, comprised of current WNBA and international professional players. Their whirlwind tour across the United States begins in November. They will play against college teams in Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina and Washington D.C. Teams like Everyone's Internet play exhibition games in order to serve as practice for NCAA Division I teams prior to the official kick-off of the regular season later this fall. Just how did an Airman stationed in Alaska get an opportunity like this? It took talent and good timing. She recently led the Air Force women's basketball team to its second consecutive Armed Forces tournament championship. Airman Mobley participated in her second season on the Air Force team. The team played six games in six days at Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme, Calif., in October against sister service teams. Their 5-1 record earned them the championship over the Army. "It feels excellent that our team won," she said. "All the hard work during the pre-tournament training camp paid off." After winning the Armed Forces championship, she was chosen to play on the All-Armed Forces team in the first-ever women's basketball Conseil International du Sport Militaire World Military Women's Basketball Championship, also held at Naval Base Ventura. CISM, one of the largest international multisport federations, has been operational since 1948 organizing events such as the World Military Championships and the Military World Games. The U.S. team played against other military teams from the Netherlands, Kazakhstan and a team from the Los Angeles Police Department. Once again, Airman Mobley's team won the championship. The obvious common denominator in the Air Force's two Armed Forces women's basketball tournament championships Falcons wake up at the right time BY WAYNE AMANN U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs • U.S. AIR FORCE ACAD•EMY, Colo. (AFPN) — Air ;Force football players, like ;many athletes, are creatures of :habit. So the prospect of playling an early-morning game Against the University of Nevada Las Vegas wasn't exactly greeted with high-fives. t But judging by their 42-7 route of the Rebels Oct. 15, the Falcons may want to re-set their biological clocks. Fueled by quarterback Shaun Carney's career-high four touchdown runs and a tenacious defense that held UNLV a paltry 2 yards rushing, Air Force dominated the Rebels before a Falcon Stadium crowd of 30,573. " in a row and one CISM win is Airman Mobley — the All-Armed Forces Most Valuable Player. Needless to say, she caught the attention of spectators and coaches, which opened more windows of opportunity for her. "A former Air Force coach of mine, Joyce Jenkins, knows the Houston Comets coach and she knew they needed another player to complete their exhibition team roster," said the 25-yearold from Jacksonville, Fla. "So she put my name in for it and they picked me. Thankfully my supervisor, Senior Master Sgt. (Mathew) Malenic, was able to allow me time off to take this opportunity." Airman Mobley is no stranger to big-time basketball, considering she played three years at the University of Florida (19982001) and one year at Shaw University, N.C. (2002-2003). Mobley tried her luck at the professional level, trying out for the Houston Comets and the Los Angeles Sparks WNBA teams. She turned do"wn an offer to play professionally in Korea just before enlisting in the Air Force. Upon entering the Air Force in 2003, she knew she wanted to play for the Air Force Team. For the past two years, she has done just that. "I really appreciate the opportunities given to me by leadership," she said. "I would really like to thank all my fellow Airmen in the shop for covering for me while I'm gone and would like to thank the command for allowing me to play and represent the Air Force and the Iceman Team." Airman Mobley's basketball expectations do not stop at the Air Force level. Eventually she would like to play Olympic basketball, setting her sights set on the 2008 games. "Another goal I have is to continue playing for the Air Force team and to see how far we can push our winning streak. I'd like to play at the professional level someday, but we'll have to see what the future holds." Opportunities like Airman Mobley's are possible through the Air Force World Class Athlete Program, a two-year program that provides active duty, National Guard and Reserve personnel the opportunity to train and compete at national and international sports competitions with the ultimate goal of selection to the U.S. Olympic team. Considering her current record, it looks like she is right on track. Not only does the hoopster have aspirations as an athlete, but she also has high hopes as an Airman. "I love my Air Force career," she said. "Eventually I'd like to complete my degree and look towards an officer commissioning program." For now, Airman Mobley will continue preparing to tour with Everyone's Internet, fulfilling her dream of playing with professional basketball players. Airman 1st Class Naomi Mobley, 6-foot-3-lnch power forward {14} takes a rebound away from two Kazakhstan players. A player with the U.S. Armed Forces Team, she helped her team win the gold medal at the Conseil International du Sport Militaire World Women's Basketball Championship here. The Airman was the 2005 All-Armed Forces Most Valuable Player. Airman Mobley Is a vehicle operator in the 354th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. The win snapped a four-game Air Force losing skid. With four games left in the regular season, the win rekindled postseason bowl talk — if the Falcons (3-4 overall and 2-3 in the Mountain West Conference) can sweep their remaining games. For the Falcon players, their day began at 6 a.m. When it was time for head coach Fisher DeBerry's game day motivational, speech, he blew the whistle on his team - literally. "I jumped up, blew my whistle, blew it loud a bunch of times and said 'wake up, wake up, by gosh it's time to go to work,'" the coach said. "We hoped we Smith of the ball, and Falcon special team captain Mark Carlson recovered at the Rebel 16 yard line. Two plays later, Carney muffed a handoff to reserve fullback Ryan Williams. But he recovered his own fumble, reversed directions and scampered into the end zone from 8 yards out, giving Air Force its second touchdowns in 47 seconds. "I've never been yelled at so much for scoringa touchdown," Carney said. "I expected to get hit. It was just a bad exchange. Ryan and I practiced all week but didn't have it today. When I picked it up and looked around could jump on (UNLV) pretty quick, and maybe they might not wake up because they're an hour behind us. I didn't know if they're used to getting up as early as we do." Afterthe Falcon defense hung a do not disturb sign on Rebel runners for minus 10 yards in a scoreless first quarter, Carney and company began to rise and shine in the second. Seventeen seconds into the quarter, the sophomore signalcaller capped a 60-yard, seven-play drive with an 11-yard touchdown run. On the ensuing kickoff, Air Force's Nate Smith stripped UNLV return man Ronnie U.S. Navy photo the only jerseys I saw were (offensive tackle) Robert Kraay and (running back) Chad Hall throwing blocks. So it worked out." Air Force out-gained UNLV 412-217 yards in total offense, including a whopping 316 to 2 edge on the ground. Eight Falcons ran for double-digit yardage. "At times we looked like a vintage option offense the way we controlled the ball on the ground," DeBerry said. "Today • we showed this is our house." The Falcons play Texas Christian University at home Saturday. TCU is 6-1 overall with a 4-0 conference record. |