Thank you for your support of the Garcelon Field Project!
On the fifth anniversary of the Garcelon Field Project, Bates gives thanks for the improved facility, which has “enhanced the quality of life for all students” and helped the Bates football, men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, men’s soccer, and women’s soccer teams to many victories since fall 2010.
“With the Garcelon Field upgrade, our game-day atmosphere is the best in the NESCAC.” — Mark Harriman, head coach, football. (Phyllis Graber Jensen/Bates College)
“Whenever my friends from other schools come to watch a game at Bates, they say, ‘Wow! This place is crazy.’ The fans are always into the game. The field is beautiful. The whole atmosphere of Garcelon makes it an awesome place to play football.” — 2014 senior co-captain Larry Guinee ’15 of Peabody, Mass. (Phyllis Graber Jensen/Bates College)
“When you look at how difficult this past winter was, it’s important to realize that we didn’t miss a single lacrosse game this season — men’s or women’s — because we have that superb facility.” — Kevin McHugh, director of athletics. (Sarah Crosby/Bates College)
“Athletics always talks about being central to the life of the campus. That’s where we want to be. With all of the athletic and non-athletic uses of the upgraded field, that’s where we are.” — Kevin McHugh, director of athletics. (H. Lincoln Benedict ’09 for Bates College)
“It’s important to recall that the football program couldn’t practice on Garcelon before the installation of the FieldTurf surface. We had to preserve the grass for games. So when the football team was able to move practices to Garcelon from the back 40 on campus — where no one could see the team practice — that increased visibility.” — Kevin McHugh, director of athletics. (Marc Glass ’88/Bates College)
“We’ve been able to do so much on Garcelon since the upgrade — for instance, hold men’s and women’s soccer games under the lights, have rugby play there on a regular basis, and also be good community partners by allowing local high schools to play there. It would be easy to do so, but we shouldn’t take for granted all we’re now able to accomplish.” — Kevin McHugh, director of athletics. (Phyllis Graber Jensen/Bates College)
Home games under the lights are all the more exciting for fans and athletes alike. (Sarah Crosby/Bates College)
“Garcelon Field’s location and quality show that Bates supports excellence in every endeavor of mind and body. It sits at the geographic hub of the campus and provides the entire community an opportunity to gather, train, and compete at the highest level. While other NESCAC schools have built impressive facilities recently, it is Garcelon’s location that creates an atmosphere like none other.” — Peter Lasagna, head coach, men’s lacrosse. (Josh Kuckens/Bates College)
“The renovation of Garcelon Field has provided the women’s lacrosse team with the premier venue for women’s lacrosse in the NESCAC. In addition to playing and practicing on Garcelon, we run our summer camp and fall clinic on Garcelon, and the field provides our program with a distinct advantage when prospects are comparing the pros and cons of Bates with other peer institutions.” — Brett and Heidi Allen, coaches, women’s lacrosse. (Phyllis Graber Jensen/Bates College)
“Garcelon is a mainstay on the Bates campus tour. When visiting prospective students and their families see the field, they can see our commitment to providing the best student-athlete experience. And when they see it being used for non-varsity recreation, it’s an important expression of our inclusion — all our facilities are open to all students.” — Leigh Weisenburger, dean of admission and financial aid. (Phyllis Graber Jensen/Bates College)
“I think the Garcelon Field donors made an important gift to the future of the college — for the success of athletics and to create the best possible experience for our student-athletes, parents, and alumni.” — Mark Harriman, head coach, football. (Phyllis Graber Jensen/Bates College)
“Unlike a lot of football fields, there’s no track around Garcelon. At Bates, that puts fans a lot closer to the action than they would be at most schools in the conference.” — Mark Harriman, head coach, football. (Mike Bradley/Bates College)
“I didn’t conceive of the Garcelon Field Project as creating an outdoor campus center that it becomes in the spring and fall. But the reality is it’s a hub for students who enjoy it almost like a second Quad on campus. A wonderful unintended consequence of the Garcelon upgrade is that it has enhanced the quality of life for all students at Bates.” — Kevin McHugh, director of athletics. (Phyllis Graber Jensen/Bates College)
Garcelon Field is the venue for the annual graduating class photo. (Josh Kuckens/Bates College)
“I think Garcelon is one of the cornerstone selling points that helps bring better players in and gets players more excited about going out and working hard in every practice.” — Senior co-captain Larry Guinee ’15 of Peabody, Mass. (Phyllis Graber Jensen/Bates College)
“There’s no question that Bates has recently been able to attract better student-athletes in football and lacrosse, and it’s not accidental that this improved recruiting coincides with the critical improvements to Garcelon.” — Kevin McHugh, director of athletics. (Mike Bradley/Bates College)
