The Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Weight Room

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Thanks to an anonymous donor, the women athletes now have their own weight room.  The room, located near Shuford Gymnasium, includes all new Magnum equipment that is equal to the equipment used by the men.

It is equipped with free weights, weight-lifting machines, a treadmill and stationary bicycle.  There is foam on the floor and mirrors wrap around the room. On one wall is a colorful sign showing The Charge, a statue of a bear symbolizing the College’s fighting spirit.

The new weight room will be used by members of all seven women’s teams: basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball.  This addition makes L-R one of the few Division II colleges with a weight room exclusively for female athletes.

In the past, the football team used a weight room in the McCrorie Center and all other sports shared a smaller weight room with older equipment.  Now all men’s sports share the McCrorie weight room while the women’s sports will share the new facility.

Todd Starkey, head women’s basketball coach, said he thinks it is better for the women to have their own facility. Being able to schedule a team workout together also leads to greater camaraderie. He added,

“They’re free to work out and not worry about any men gawking at them,” said Starkey.

Women's Soccer Coach Will Beddingfield commented that the equipment will allow his team to train properly. "The equipment is designed for women. It allows us to work our core strength perfectly and in many different ways", he said. 

In addition, the new facility helps in recruiting.

“We’ve really tried to show it off,”  Starkey said. “Even a lot of (NCAA) Division I colleges don’t have a facility like this.  Having their own weight room allows team members to complete their workout more efficiently instead of having to wait to use equipment."

Shena Hollar, women’s softball coach and senior women’s sports administrator, agreed that the new weight room is a great recruiting tool.

“The girls like it because nobody else is in there,” Hollar said. “They can get in, get their stuff done and get out.”

Vicki Perry, an assistant softball coach and former team member, pointed out that much of the new equipment is designed specifically for a woman’s smaller frame.

Kristin Duvall, a pitcher on the softball team, said, “It’s so much nicer and cleaner than the old weight room. It’s more enjoyable when you’re in here, instead of ‘Let’s just get this done and get out of here.’” 

Taylor Queen, an outfielder on the team, said, “We have great equipment. I feel special since we got this nice weight room. I feel like we work hard, so we’re worth it.”