Cal Poly Women's Basketball Unveils New Locker Room
1/19/2021 3:39:00 PM | Women's Basketball
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Offering an entirely renovated space for Cal Poly women's basketball student-athletes to study and prepare for practices and gamedays, the Mustangs unveiled their new Jan and Ron Haynes Locker Room on Saturday.
The renovation, which included the installation of 19 new lockers, additions of a hydration station and an academic workspace, the implementation of new lighting, flooring and ventilation, an overhaul of Wi-Fi availability, Bluetooth audio & visual equipment for film review, all packaged in Cal Poly Mustangs branding, was completely funded from donations.
"We are so excited for the new locker room and couldn't be more thankful for everyone who made this possible," Cal Poly redshirt sophomore guard Maddie Vick said. "A locker room is a safe place for all of us to come together and build stronger connections, so to have the opportunity to be gifted a new one with amazing features has us all eager to use it!"
Over 30 donors gave more than $215,000 to the effort, led by Ron & Jan Haynes, plus two anonymous supporters, head coach Faith Mimnaugh, Christina Bailey (Department Chair Emerita of Chemistry and Biochemistry), Phil Bailey (Dean Emeritus of the College of Science and Mathematics) and former Mustang Taryn (Sperry) & Tyler Dritz.
"This locker room renovation will provide a great place for the team to watch film, study, and recover from practice and games. We're so grateful to the donors who made this vision a reality," Mimnaugh said.
The facility's Academic Area is dedicated to Christina & Phil Bailey.
"For us, the whole program embodies everything that's important about education and the values that are instilled at a collegiate level: not just academics, but drive, ambition, grit and character," Jan Haynes said.
"When you think of the Cal Poly 'Learn by Doing' ethos and hands-on curriculum, they take it to another level not just by winning games but by developing empathy, character, team-building and community involvement," she added. "For us, sports represent a lot of important things which, at that age, if young people can learn those skillsets, translate to so many other parts of life and end up creating leaders in our society."
The Haynes first became acquainted with the program when the staff was looking to fundraise for its once-every-four-years international tour, which in 2019 took the team to Australia for nine days of exhibition games, cultural exchange and educational opportunities.
"We got to know the team a little bit better and what we found was an amazing group of student-athletes and coaches," Jan Haynes said. "We said 'What else do they need?' And the locker room renovation, longer-term, would improve the experience of student-athletes not only in the program right now but also impact many women for years to come."
Gallery: (1-16-2021) Cal Poly WBB Unveils Haynes Locker Room
"We're very excited," Ron Haynes, Orfalea College of Business, Class of 1972, added about the renovation coming to fruition. "We're extremely happy the seniors on the team this year will be able to utilize it. This is a huge upgrade, and they were able to very cleverly fit all the new elements into the renovation."
Including last season, Cal Poly has advanced to at least the conference tournament semifinals in nine out of the past 13 years.
Meanwhile for the final academic term last year, the Mustang roster saw four players earn 4.0 GPAs.
Additionally, seven teammates also made respective Dean's Honors Lists, with the squad spanning a variety of 12 majors across campus.
Bailey, who has attended basketball games at Cal Poly since the 1970s, recalls getting to know Mustang players who were students of his over the past few decades and "saw a lot of things in the program that I thought were valuable as far as personal growth for the students, and the role model that Coach Faith projects."
"One thing that has always impressed Tina and me about the team is they try hard all the time. Whether it's on a winning day or not a winning day, they're winners because they always try hard. That's just part of their character and what they've committed to," Bailey said. "You can always see hustle, energy and camaraderie at every game. It was obvious to my wife and me that Coach Faith promotes that and recruits people who will fit into that. There's being a student and being an athlete, but the two together have a similar purpose of building character and pursuing personal growth."
The namesake of the Academic Area, Christina Bailey, was a pioneering woman in chemistry and biochemistry higher education, earning Cal Poly's Distinguished Teaching Award and the campus' nomination for CSU Outstanding Faculty while serving as Chair of the Academic Senate Curriculum Committee.
"She was able to talk with (the players) about challenges that women sometimes face just because things haven't always been equal opportunities for women, and just having the courage, confidence and initiative to do what you want to do," Phil Bailey said. "She's a role model," he added of Tina, "and Coach Faith is a role model. It's just an outstanding group of young women playing basketball."
Haynes also praised the team's community outreach endeavors such as recruiting local elementary schools to campus for the annual Field Trip Day Game, which (in normal years) brings thousands of children to experience a college environment.
"Every connected family has a place where they gather, whether it is the kitchen table or the living room," Mimnaugh said. "This will be a great gathering spot for our Cal Poly family."
The new locker room's Unbroken Spirit Award display is named in honor of Taryn (Class of 2001) and Tyler Dritz.
The Byrd Family, Gilbert Family, Gerald Caudle, Kayla Griffin, Stephanie B. and Jerry Trafton, Susanne Cooper, Paul and Lou Willett, Kari Duperron, Kenneth Witham, Firestone Grill, Nwamaka Ofodu, Brittany Woodard, 5 Cities Community Service Foundation, Schlemer Family, Nikol Frisch, and Marsha and Steve Steinfeld also helped the renovation become a reality.
"My teammates and I are so thankful to all the amazing donors who have created an opportunity for us to enjoy a brand-new locker room! It will be a place for us to continue to bond as a family, stay on top of our studies, and like a second home we can always go to," junior guard Gianna Silvestri said.
"Especially during this time of distance to many normal college experiences, it will be nice to be able to have some of that back and spend a little more time on campus," Silvestri added. "Again, we are incredibly thankful to everyone who made this renovation possible and we can't wait to make you all proud this season!"
Gallery: (1-16-2021) Mustangs Celebrate New WBB Locker Room
The renovation, which included the installation of 19 new lockers, additions of a hydration station and an academic workspace, the implementation of new lighting, flooring and ventilation, an overhaul of Wi-Fi availability, Bluetooth audio & visual equipment for film review, all packaged in Cal Poly Mustangs branding, was completely funded from donations.
"We are so excited for the new locker room and couldn't be more thankful for everyone who made this possible," Cal Poly redshirt sophomore guard Maddie Vick said. "A locker room is a safe place for all of us to come together and build stronger connections, so to have the opportunity to be gifted a new one with amazing features has us all eager to use it!"
Over 30 donors gave more than $215,000 to the effort, led by Ron & Jan Haynes, plus two anonymous supporters, head coach Faith Mimnaugh, Christina Bailey (Department Chair Emerita of Chemistry and Biochemistry), Phil Bailey (Dean Emeritus of the College of Science and Mathematics) and former Mustang Taryn (Sperry) & Tyler Dritz.
"This locker room renovation will provide a great place for the team to watch film, study, and recover from practice and games. We're so grateful to the donors who made this vision a reality," Mimnaugh said.
The facility's Academic Area is dedicated to Christina & Phil Bailey.
"For us, the whole program embodies everything that's important about education and the values that are instilled at a collegiate level: not just academics, but drive, ambition, grit and character," Jan Haynes said.
"When you think of the Cal Poly 'Learn by Doing' ethos and hands-on curriculum, they take it to another level not just by winning games but by developing empathy, character, team-building and community involvement," she added. "For us, sports represent a lot of important things which, at that age, if young people can learn those skillsets, translate to so many other parts of life and end up creating leaders in our society."
The Haynes first became acquainted with the program when the staff was looking to fundraise for its once-every-four-years international tour, which in 2019 took the team to Australia for nine days of exhibition games, cultural exchange and educational opportunities.
"We got to know the team a little bit better and what we found was an amazing group of student-athletes and coaches," Jan Haynes said. "We said 'What else do they need?' And the locker room renovation, longer-term, would improve the experience of student-athletes not only in the program right now but also impact many women for years to come."
"We're very excited," Ron Haynes, Orfalea College of Business, Class of 1972, added about the renovation coming to fruition. "We're extremely happy the seniors on the team this year will be able to utilize it. This is a huge upgrade, and they were able to very cleverly fit all the new elements into the renovation."
Including last season, Cal Poly has advanced to at least the conference tournament semifinals in nine out of the past 13 years.
Meanwhile for the final academic term last year, the Mustang roster saw four players earn 4.0 GPAs.
Additionally, seven teammates also made respective Dean's Honors Lists, with the squad spanning a variety of 12 majors across campus.
Bailey, who has attended basketball games at Cal Poly since the 1970s, recalls getting to know Mustang players who were students of his over the past few decades and "saw a lot of things in the program that I thought were valuable as far as personal growth for the students, and the role model that Coach Faith projects."
"One thing that has always impressed Tina and me about the team is they try hard all the time. Whether it's on a winning day or not a winning day, they're winners because they always try hard. That's just part of their character and what they've committed to," Bailey said. "You can always see hustle, energy and camaraderie at every game. It was obvious to my wife and me that Coach Faith promotes that and recruits people who will fit into that. There's being a student and being an athlete, but the two together have a similar purpose of building character and pursuing personal growth."
The namesake of the Academic Area, Christina Bailey, was a pioneering woman in chemistry and biochemistry higher education, earning Cal Poly's Distinguished Teaching Award and the campus' nomination for CSU Outstanding Faculty while serving as Chair of the Academic Senate Curriculum Committee.
"She was able to talk with (the players) about challenges that women sometimes face just because things haven't always been equal opportunities for women, and just having the courage, confidence and initiative to do what you want to do," Phil Bailey said. "She's a role model," he added of Tina, "and Coach Faith is a role model. It's just an outstanding group of young women playing basketball."
Haynes also praised the team's community outreach endeavors such as recruiting local elementary schools to campus for the annual Field Trip Day Game, which (in normal years) brings thousands of children to experience a college environment.
"Every connected family has a place where they gather, whether it is the kitchen table or the living room," Mimnaugh said. "This will be a great gathering spot for our Cal Poly family."
The new locker room's Unbroken Spirit Award display is named in honor of Taryn (Class of 2001) and Tyler Dritz.
The Byrd Family, Gilbert Family, Gerald Caudle, Kayla Griffin, Stephanie B. and Jerry Trafton, Susanne Cooper, Paul and Lou Willett, Kari Duperron, Kenneth Witham, Firestone Grill, Nwamaka Ofodu, Brittany Woodard, 5 Cities Community Service Foundation, Schlemer Family, Nikol Frisch, and Marsha and Steve Steinfeld also helped the renovation become a reality.
"My teammates and I are so thankful to all the amazing donors who have created an opportunity for us to enjoy a brand-new locker room! It will be a place for us to continue to bond as a family, stay on top of our studies, and like a second home we can always go to," junior guard Gianna Silvestri said.
"Especially during this time of distance to many normal college experiences, it will be nice to be able to have some of that back and spend a little more time on campus," Silvestri added. "Again, we are incredibly thankful to everyone who made this renovation possible and we can't wait to make you all proud this season!"
Players Mentioned
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