Lenoir-Rhyne Athletic Facilities

HELEN AND LEONARD MORETZ STADIUM
Moretz Stadium has been home to the Lenoir-Rhyne Football program since the early 1920s. The Bears' home football facility was renamed in 1989 the Helen & Leonard Moretz Stadium, honoring two longtime Lenoir-Rhyne supporters. Originally, it also shared time with the baseball program until a new baseball field was constructed and major renovations were given to Moretz Stadium. 

The stadium capacity after the renovations increased its capacity to 9,500 but later dropped to 8,500 after a section of the visitors seating was removed following the 1982 season.  Moretz Stadium is the largest on-campus stadium in the South Atlantic Conference and is widely recognized as one of the finest small college football stadiums in the nation.

SHUFORD MEMORIAL GYMNASIUM
Shuford Memorial Gymnasium has been home to the Lenoir-Rhyne Men’s and Women’s Basketball Teams as well as the Bears' Volleyball Program since the 1956-57 season . Shuford Gym has a capacity of 3,200 and was erected in the memory of the late A. Alex Shuford, Sr. 

Shuford Athletics Complex also houses the Lenoir-Rhyne College Athletics Department, the Department of Healthful Livings and Sports Studies, and the Piedmont Educational Foundation/Bears Club.

Major renovations are on the drawing board for the gym as part of the Moretz Sports-Athletic Complex.

SHUFORD PHYSICAL EDUCATION CENTER SWIMMING POOL
The Shuford Physical Education Center contains an Olympic-style, state-of-the-art indoor swimming pool.  The pool hosts several club, high school and collegiate events and is one of the finest pools in Western North Carolina.

Lenoir-Rhyne launched Women's Swimming Program in 2007-08 and is planning on adding a men's program in 2010-11.

BASEBALL STADIUM
The Lenoir-Rhyne College Baseball Field is the home of the 2001 South Atlantic Conference Champions as well as the 2000 and 2001 South Atlantic Conference Tournament Champions. Bears Field, which opened in 1924, has a capacity of 500.

The field has undergone several major renovations within the past few years.  A new grass infield was installed as well as a new state-of-the-art scoreboard and dugout protectors prior to the 2007 season.  Just before the 2008 campaign, permanent lights were installed for the first time in school history and a new batting cage was built behind the left field fence.

A new press box and locker rooms (as part of the John and Marilyn Moretz Sports Center) are on the drawing board of the Moretz Sports-Athletic Complex.

SOFTBALL FIELD
The Lenoir-Rhyne College Softball Field is home to the 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008 South Atlantic Conference regular season co-champions as well as the 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2007 South Atlantic Conference Tournament Champions. 

In 1998, Bears Field received new home and away dugouts with storage facilities as well as a new press box.  Prior to to the 2008 season, a state-of-the-art scoreboard and permanent lights were installed.  Bears Field has a seating capacity of 500.  

SOCCER FIELD
The Lenoir-Rhyne College Soccer Field, also known as Bears Field, is undergoing dramatic chances for the 2008 season.  The field is getting a total makeover and will be surrounded by a track that includes a state-of-the-art mondo surface.  Lights will be installed as well prior to next season and permanent bleachers and a new press box are in the plans.

CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT PHOTOS OF THE SOCCER FIELD'S RECONSTRUCTION