The following is an excerpt from a column by University of Illinois Springfield Chancellor Susan Koch. This column appeared in The State Journal-Register on March 12, 2017.
In 1948, the preamble of the new World Health Organization's constitution redefined "health" as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease."
That unprecedented definition, conveying the more positive aspects of health, sparked the worldwide "wellness movement."
Since then, wellness has become an important part of both community and university life across the U.S.
The heart of campus wellness at the University of Illinois Springfield is the TRAC (The Recreation and Athletic Center), a 72,000 square-foot facility that opened in 2007 — thanks in part to a generous gift from the Hoogland Family Foundation of Springfield's own Charles and Kathleen Hoogland.
A state-of-the-art wellness and recreation facility, TRAC houses multiple indoor sport and fitness venues, including basketball and volleyball courts, an elevated running track, cardio and weight training areas and a multipurpose exercise room.
Led by director of Campus Recreation James Koeppe, TRAC staff provide a variety of wellness programs for students, faculty and staff, including group fitness classes (like strength and cardio training, Pilates, yoga, martial arts and dance), intramural sports programs and even personal training services.
"TRAC is more than just a place to work out," says James. "It's a lively gathering place on campus. There's a real sense of belonging and community here; at the same time, the programs we offer encourage participants to develop healthy habits of exercise and good nutrition — habits that improve all aspects of their lives."
TRAC is also home to UIS's Division II Prairie Stars athletics, and a valuable addition to the program this year is Chris Lowe, the new Strength and Conditioning coach. Thanks to a partnership with Springfield Clinic, Chris works with the 260 Prairie Stars student-athletes on all 15 athletic teams.
"Though each team has their own strength and conditioning plan, I take an individualized approach," says Chris. "Teams with professional strength and conditioning programs are more competitive, and in addition to strength and conditioning workouts, I educate students about the importance of sleep, good nutrition and adequate hydration."
Read the entire article column online.
Showing posts with label Rec Center. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rec Center. Show all posts
Monday, March 13, 2017
Monday, January 19, 2015
UIS men break through with first conference win
Competing in the Great Lakes Valley Conference has been tough for the University of Illinois Springfield men’s basketball team.
Monday was no different as the Prairie Stars got off to a slow start against McKendree at The Recreation and Athletic Center. But unlike past league contests, UIS pulled off a much-needed 67-63 win.
The Stars outlasted the Bearcats for their first GLVC victory. It snapped a seven-game losing streak and gave the Stars their first win since Dec. 9 when they defeated St. Catherine. UIS is 7-8 overall and 1-6 in the GLVC.
The Stars had to earn it. “We were focused defensively,” UIS junior guard Jamall Millison said. “Everybody was locked in defensively. Everybody played together. We were just here as a team. There was no individual.”
This story appeared online in The State Journal-Register on January 19, 2015.
Read the article here
Monday was no different as the Prairie Stars got off to a slow start against McKendree at The Recreation and Athletic Center. But unlike past league contests, UIS pulled off a much-needed 67-63 win.
The Stars outlasted the Bearcats for their first GLVC victory. It snapped a seven-game losing streak and gave the Stars their first win since Dec. 9 when they defeated St. Catherine. UIS is 7-8 overall and 1-6 in the GLVC.
The Stars had to earn it. “We were focused defensively,” UIS junior guard Jamall Millison said. “Everybody was locked in defensively. Everybody played together. We were just here as a team. There was no individual.”
This story appeared online in The State Journal-Register on January 19, 2015.
Read the article here
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
UIS men's basketball team holds off Lincoln University
Junior Jamall Millison and sophomore Mark Weems Jr. combined to hit seven of eight free throws in the final 36 seconds as the University of Illinois Springfield held on for a 72-67 win over Lincoln University in a non-conference men’s basketball game Monday.
Weems put the unbeaten Prairie Stars up 63-48 with 4½ minutes left in the second half. Lincoln answered with a 9-0 scoring run, including three steals.
Joshua Buie’s steal and layup pulled the Blue Tigers within six points with 2:18 remaining.
Blake Ralling’s steal set up teammate Mike Smith’s layup and Lincoln got within four points at the 1:07 mark.
The Blue Tigers cut it 65-62 when Smith converted one of two foul shots with 47 seconds to go. Millison’s four straight free throws widened the lead to seven points with 25 seconds left.
Millison finished with a team-high 18 points and two steals. Weems added 15 points and six rebounds. Freshman Vince Walker scored 11 points for the 3-0 Stars.
Victor Scott had 21 points for Lincoln (1-5). Buie scored 20 and grabbed five steals.
In women's basketball, Freshman Shelbi Patterson collected a team-high 20 points, seven assists, five steals and two 3-pointers for University of Illinois Springfield in an 81-40 non-conference victory over Robert Morris University at The Recreation and Athletic Center.
UIS led 40-21 at halftime. RMU went 6½ minutes without scoring during a 15-0 run late in the second half that put UIS ahead 78-35. Senior Courtney Knuckles poured in 17 points for the Prairie Stars (2-3). Junior teammate Briana Starks added a team-leading nine rebounds, 12 points and four steals.
The Eagles (0-6) used just six players. Senior Brandi Bradley led RMU with 16 points. Juniors Jessica Taylor and Laci Porter scored 10 points apiece.
This article appeared online in The State Journal-Register on Monday, November 24, 2014.
Read the entire article online.
Weems put the unbeaten Prairie Stars up 63-48 with 4½ minutes left in the second half. Lincoln answered with a 9-0 scoring run, including three steals.
Joshua Buie’s steal and layup pulled the Blue Tigers within six points with 2:18 remaining.
Blake Ralling’s steal set up teammate Mike Smith’s layup and Lincoln got within four points at the 1:07 mark.
The Blue Tigers cut it 65-62 when Smith converted one of two foul shots with 47 seconds to go. Millison’s four straight free throws widened the lead to seven points with 25 seconds left.
Millison finished with a team-high 18 points and two steals. Weems added 15 points and six rebounds. Freshman Vince Walker scored 11 points for the 3-0 Stars.
Victor Scott had 21 points for Lincoln (1-5). Buie scored 20 and grabbed five steals.
In women's basketball, Freshman Shelbi Patterson collected a team-high 20 points, seven assists, five steals and two 3-pointers for University of Illinois Springfield in an 81-40 non-conference victory over Robert Morris University at The Recreation and Athletic Center.
UIS led 40-21 at halftime. RMU went 6½ minutes without scoring during a 15-0 run late in the second half that put UIS ahead 78-35. Senior Courtney Knuckles poured in 17 points for the Prairie Stars (2-3). Junior teammate Briana Starks added a team-leading nine rebounds, 12 points and four steals.
The Eagles (0-6) used just six players. Senior Brandi Bradley led RMU with 16 points. Juniors Jessica Taylor and Laci Porter scored 10 points apiece.
This article appeared online in The State Journal-Register on Monday, November 24, 2014.
Read the entire article online.
Monday, October 21, 2013
1,550 run in inaugural Springfield Marathon races
The marathon course had runners exiting the north side of the University of Illinois Springfield campus and heading out of the city limits into parts of Rochester and Cotton Hill townships before eventually finishing back on campus.
Jacksonville native Mark Saunders, who now lives in Fort Collins, Colo., finished first overall in the 26.2 mile race with a time of 2:51:12. Another central Illinois native, Kathy Hoving, 37, who now lives in Indonesia, finished in first place in the women’s division with a time of 3:14:25.
It was nearly 13 years ago, when Hoving was 24, that she finished her very first marathon in Chicago with a time of 3:36. But on Sunday, she was happy to achieve a new personal best.
“I was very pleasantly surprised,” Hoving said, adding that she was proud to have participated in a marathon so close to her hometown of Tremont.
The marathon was featured by The State Journal-Register on October 21, 2013.
Read the story online
Jacksonville native Mark Saunders, who now lives in Fort Collins, Colo., finished first overall in the 26.2 mile race with a time of 2:51:12. Another central Illinois native, Kathy Hoving, 37, who now lives in Indonesia, finished in first place in the women’s division with a time of 3:14:25.
It was nearly 13 years ago, when Hoving was 24, that she finished her very first marathon in Chicago with a time of 3:36. But on Sunday, she was happy to achieve a new personal best.
“I was very pleasantly surprised,” Hoving said, adding that she was proud to have participated in a marathon so close to her hometown of Tremont.
The marathon was featured by The State Journal-Register on October 21, 2013.
Read the story online
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Wellness at work: Employers find healthier workers are more productive
Trent Tangen, assistant director of fitness and wellness for the department of recreation sports, said University of Illinois Springfield employees get periodic email blasts and video blogs offering health tips and healthy recipes. The university’s health services department also puts on an employee health fair that includes bone density and cholesterol screenings and eye exams.
Employees and their spouses — the university employs just over 1,000 full-time and part-time faculty and staff — also can purchase membership at the recreation center.
The biggest challenge for employees? Tangen said it’s keeping energy level up.
“If you have more energy throughout the day, your work product is going to go up,” said Tangen. “You’re going to have energy to exercise or take the kids to the park.”
Wellness programs were featured in an May 24, 2012, article in the State Journal-Register.
Read the article online
Employees and their spouses — the university employs just over 1,000 full-time and part-time faculty and staff — also can purchase membership at the recreation center.
The biggest challenge for employees? Tangen said it’s keeping energy level up.
“If you have more energy throughout the day, your work product is going to go up,” said Tangen. “You’re going to have energy to exercise or take the kids to the park.”
Wellness programs were featured in an May 24, 2012, article in the State Journal-Register.
Read the article online
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
UIS baseball diamond under construction
Things are coming together for the University of Illinois Springfield Prairie Stars’ first-year baseball program and coach Brian Grunzke.
A practice diamond is under construction south of The Recreation and Athletic Center on the UIS campus near the soccer practice fields. UIS associate athletic director Scott Reed hopes the diamond will be completed by the time classes begin on Aug. 23.
UIS plays its first season beginning in spring 2011 and the Prairie Stars have secured a field for home games. The team will play its home contests at Chatham’s Community Park, according to Reed.
The baseball team was featured in a August 3, 2010, article in The State Journal-Register.
Download a PDF of the article
A practice diamond is under construction south of The Recreation and Athletic Center on the UIS campus near the soccer practice fields. UIS associate athletic director Scott Reed hopes the diamond will be completed by the time classes begin on Aug. 23.
UIS plays its first season beginning in spring 2011 and the Prairie Stars have secured a field for home games. The team will play its home contests at Chatham’s Community Park, according to Reed.
The baseball team was featured in a August 3, 2010, article in The State Journal-Register.
Download a PDF of the article
Thursday, March 4, 2010
NCAA basketball comes to Springfield
This weekend, as Jim Naumovich returns to his hometown, he’ll bring the Great Lakes Valley Conference men’s and women’s basketball tournaments along with him.
Springfield native Naumovich is the commissioner of the GLVC, one of the country’s largest National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II conferences with 16 members in five Midwest states. The University of Illinois Springfield, which last fall joined teams like Saint Joseph’s College and Quincy University in the conference, will host the final four games of the two tournaments at The Recreation and Athletic Center on March 6 and 7.
Since the UIS Prairie Stars aren’t eligible to play in the GLVC tournament during their first year in the conference, the three-year-old TRAC will serve as a neutral location for advancing teams.
The tournament was featured in a March 4, 2010, article in the Illinois Times.
Download a PDF of the article:
20100304-ILTimes-NCAA-basketball-Springfield.pdf
Springfield native Naumovich is the commissioner of the GLVC, one of the country’s largest National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II conferences with 16 members in five Midwest states. The University of Illinois Springfield, which last fall joined teams like Saint Joseph’s College and Quincy University in the conference, will host the final four games of the two tournaments at The Recreation and Athletic Center on March 6 and 7.
Since the UIS Prairie Stars aren’t eligible to play in the GLVC tournament during their first year in the conference, the three-year-old TRAC will serve as a neutral location for advancing teams.
The tournament was featured in a March 4, 2010, article in the Illinois Times.
Download a PDF of the article:
20100304-ILTimes-NCAA-basketball-Springfield.pdf
Thursday, September 17, 2009
UIS notebook: Prairie Stars to host sports smorgasbord Friday
The south side of the University of Illinois Springfield campus will be abuzz with activity Friday.
The UIS Prairie Stars’ volleyball and men’s and women’s soccer teams all play their first-ever Great Lakes Valley Conference home matches that evening, making Kiwanis Stadium and The Recreation and Athletic Center the places to be.
The teams were featured in a September 17, 2009 edition of the State Journal-Register.
Download a PDF of the article.
20090917-SJR-UIS-notebook.pdf
The UIS Prairie Stars’ volleyball and men’s and women’s soccer teams all play their first-ever Great Lakes Valley Conference home matches that evening, making Kiwanis Stadium and The Recreation and Athletic Center the places to be.
The teams were featured in a September 17, 2009 edition of the State Journal-Register.
Download a PDF of the article.
20090917-SJR-UIS-notebook.pdf
Friday, September 21, 2007
Opening day at The TRAC featured in SJR
The new UIS Recreation and Athletic Center (The T.R.A.C.) opened it's doors to faculty, staff, and students on Tuesday, September 18, 2007. The Springfield, Illinois daily newspaper, the State Journal-Register featured the center on its front page on Wednesday, September 20. They also included a photo gallery on their website.
Download a PDF file of the SJR front page: 20070920-SJR-RecCenterOpens.pdf
Download a PDF file of the SJR front page: 20070920-SJR-RecCenterOpens.pdf
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