INA – Rend Lake College broke ground Wednesday on the new Banterra Sports Complex on the Ina campus.

Renovations of the complex will include approximately 5,688 square feet of additional space for a new entryway/lobby, concessions, training room and new restrooms. The existing 32,000 square feet will be renovated to include new digital scoreboards, scorers’ bench, locker rooms, office space and more. The cost of the renovations and additions totals to approximately $6.5 million.

“This renovation modernizes the original facility,” says RLC President Terry Wilkerson, “and raises the facilities’ standards to equal that of our expectations for our outstanding student athletes.”

President and CEO of Banterra Bank, Jeff May, shares that the partnership between Rend Lake College and Banterra Bank for this facility is about serving, enhancing and growing the community.

“If you look at the history of Rend Lake College and what it has done for our area, it is important to that we continue to make the college a bigger and more important part of our community,” says May. “We know Rend Lake College enrolls students in our [Banterra Bank] footprint and we want to support programs that recognize them and any enhancement to their campus experience.”

The Banterra Sports Complex at Rend Lake College will include the existing James “Hummer” Waugh Gymnasium as well as new additions to the space. Waugh Gymnasium is one of the original buildings on the college’s campus and in 1995 was named after Waugh, a long-time coach and educator with nearly 50 combined athletic seasons to his credit when he retired. In addition to the gym, it includes athletic offices and locker rooms.

“This is one of most exciting days in recent memory for RLC,” says Tony Wielt, RLC Foundation chair and Board of Trustees member. “A groundbreaking of this significance will benefit several generations of athletes as well as the surrounding communities that use this facility.”

For more information on the Game Plan, please visit www.rlc.edu/gameplan or email foundation@rlc.edu.