Boiling Springs, N.C. - The Gardner-Webb University administration in, conjunction with the athletics department and the wrestling team, are excited to announce a new home for Bulldog Wrestling.

The former YMCA gym on Branch Street, just across the street from the main campus, will soon be the home of the Gardner-Webb Wrestling program.  The team has been using the facility off and on over the past few years, and as a result of collaboration with the town of Boiling Springs, the University has negotiated a deal which will allow the team to move into the facility on a permanent basis.

"To merely say we are excited would be a rather large understatement.  When renovations are complete, we will have, perhaps nicest collegiate facility in the Carolinas," commented head coach Dick Wince.  "This takes our possibilities to a whole other level. The facility will raise our practice efficiency, hygiene, and recruiting exponentially, as well as greatly enhance our recruiting."

While the building will need some renovations, when completed it will be one of the largest, most up-to-date wrestling facilities around.  The facility will feature over 4,600 square feet of wrestling area, a 36 to 42 men locker room, a full shower and bathroom area, a washer and a dryer, an area of over 350 square feet to facilitate exercise and weight equipment, as well as three offices for the coaching staff.

With over 2.5 full mats of practice space, the wrestling area will be one of the largest in the state.  Current practice and wrestling room conditions will be upgraded from a one-mat room and two showers to a state of the art facility.

Our wrestling program is thrilled to make this move, and happy to have the backing and support from Gardner-Webb University.  Not only will this new facility help with training conditions, it will also increase the overall experience of all Gardner-Webb wrestlers as they grow and spend their time on campus.

"This is a very exciting time for our program.  I truly feel that this move is going to help the Gardner-Webb wrestling program reach its goals and vision for the future," stated Assistant Coach and former GWU grappler standout Daniel Elliott.  "This facility is going to help in many areas for our program.  I have no doubt that this will help with recruiting as well as the general atmosphere on the team.  Probably the most important aspect of the move, will be the mat space that we will have available.  I have been associated with the Bulldog wrestling program since our move to Division I, whether as an athlete  or as a coach, and this move may be the biggest news for the program since the move to Division I.  I am excited about what the future holds for the Gardner-Webb wrestling program."

"We are extremely grateful to the Town of Boiling Springs, the town council, and the university, for their foresight and generosity in helping the GWU wrestling program go to the next level," said Wince.