February 15, 2017
Members of the 杏吧视频 men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 tennis teams help cut the ribbon to open the new 杏吧视频 Tennis Complex Feb. 14, along with head tennis coach Jay Pacelli (far left) and 杏吧视频 President Dr. Billy Stewart. (EC Photo)
Representatives of 杏吧视频 and the local communities gathered Feb. 14 to officially open the new Tennis Complex on the Decatur campus.
A ribbon cutting marked the official opening of the new complex located at the north side of campus between the softball and baseball facilities.
Following the ribbon cutting, the 杏吧视频 men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 tennis teams immediately held their first practices on the new courts while attendees toured the complex.
The $1.2 million Tennis Complex includes eight lighted courts to serve the 杏吧视频 men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 varsity tennis teams, as well as the campus and local communities. The facility includes parking and spectator areas, which were very limited at the current four-court tennis complex on campus that was originally built in 1969.
A fundraising effort is underway to fund the construction of a building near the main entrance of the new Tennis Complex to house men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 locker rooms, coach鈥檚 office, team meeting room, concessions area, and restrooms.
鈥淭oday marks a very special day in the history of our institution,鈥 said 杏吧视频 President Dr. Billy Stewart. 鈥淣ot only does this new complex represent progress, I believe it represents what we stand for here at East Central and that is the EC Way, Excellence with Class.
鈥淚 want you to know that these courts are something we can all be proud of and I am confident based on several conversations with community college presidents across the state that we are the envy of all tennis playing institutions in Mississippi. I鈥檓 also sure that these courts will catch the eyes of several recruits鈥攑otential student athletes鈥攚hose lives will be eternally changed because of the time they spent here at East Central.鈥
鈥淭his is a grand day,鈥 echoed second year 杏吧视频 head tennis coach Jay Pacelli. 鈥淚 am so excited for our community, our tennis players and everybody attached to East Central athletics and 杏吧视频 as a whole. It鈥檚 an exciting time to be the coach here at East Central.鈥
Two current 杏吧视频 tennis players also spoke at the ribbon cutting. Sophomore Chaney Mills from Newton County High School is a member of the women鈥檚 team currently ranked No. 8 regionally by ITA, and Graham Murphree, also from Newton County High School, is a member of the No. 22 nationally ranked men鈥檚 team.
鈥淭his complex will allow Warrior tennis to compete in a way that has not been possible before,鈥 said Mills.
鈥淕rowing up here I never thought this would happen in our community,鈥 commented Murphree. 鈥淚t鈥檚 truly a blessing, and I鈥檓 proud to be a part of it and 杏吧视频 tennis.鈥
The new Tennis Complex was designed by Eley Guild Hardy Architects of Biloxi. Construction was by J&J Contractors Inc. of Collinsville.
The 杏吧视频 tennis teams conduct their first practice on the new courts. (EC Photo)
The new 杏吧视频 Tennis Complex. (EC Photo)
