Oakland City University breaks ground on tennis center
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now-
(rendering provided)
-
(rendering provided)
Officials from Oakland City University on Tuesday broke ground on a more than $1 million tennis center on the Gibson County campus. Funding for the project is being led by a $250,000 gift from alumnus Dr. Donald Wilder and his wife, Mary Ann.
The Drs. Donald and MaryAnn Wilder Tennis Center will feature six tennis courts for the university’s men’s and women’s tennis teams.
OCU President Ron Dempsey says the project is part of an ongoing effort to upgrade the university’s athletic facilities and provide scholarships for student-athletes.
Donald Wilder graduated in 1963 from what was then known as Oakland City College. The university says Wilder is an avid tennis player and he and his wife have been lifelong contributors to the school.
“Philanthropic contributions from generous donors like Drs. Donald and Mary Ann Wilder have proven to help our teams be competitive and elevate the student-athlete experience on campus,” OCU Athletic Director T-Ray Fletcher said in written remarks. “This new Tennis Center, we will help us increase our recruiting and retention efforts.”
The tennis center is expected to be complete by late spring 2023.
OCU’s women’s tennis team competed in the National Christian College Athletic Association National Championship game last year. The men’s team won the River States Conference Championship and also competed in the NAIA national tournament for the first time in school history.