Collegiate Times

Take advantage of your surroundings with this guide to on-campus gyms and recreation.

WAR MEMORIAL

War Memorial Hall overlooks the Drillfield directly across from Burruss Hall. The building not only houses recreational sports activities and workout facilities for faculty, staff and students, but also contains classrooms for education.

The main part of the facility includes six basketball courts, an indoor swimming pool with lanes and diving equipment where the swim and dive team often practices, three wallyball courts, and a weight room.

Although the weight room is sizably smaller and has fewer cardio machines than the facility in McComas Hall, it is often much less crowded and caters to not only students, but also to faculty and staff.

Air conditioning is sparse in this gym, and it can feel hot to some students.

Throughout the year, War Memorial also plays host to Department of Recreational Sports activities such as intramural volleyball tournaments, basketball, wallyball and water polo.

Some other features that are unique to War Memorial are its 13 racquetball courts, two squash courts and a gymnastics room. While walking through the main hallway overlooking the pool, students in the gymnastics room or on the squash courts can pause to examine the daily goings-on.

When looking to play sports such as racquetball, squash, or even basketball, patrons can rent equipment from the facility by turning in their Hokie Passport and signing out whatever they need to rent.

If sports are not what students are looking for, there are multiple dance and aerobics rooms that host a wide variety of activities such as boxing lessons, dance classes, and trainer-led aerobic sessions.

After workouts, locker rooms with shower facilities and saunas are available so all of War Memorial’s patrons can freshen up after a hard workout.

Lockers can be rented for $15 each semester.

MCCOMAS

McComas Hall is a large workout facility located on Washington Street beside the Cassell Coliseum commuter parking lot.

It features a newly renovated 8-lane, 25-meter swimming pool on the basement level and weight training and exercise rooms across from the pool.

On the building’s main floor are three basketball courts and a punching bag for boxing training. Students wishing to play basketball should remember that it is difficult to get onto a court quickly after 5 p.m., as McComas’ peak usage hours are 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. every night.

Upstairs, there is a jogging/walking track and cardio machines, including stationary bikes, ellipticals, rowing machines and treadmills. Nine laps on the track equals one mile. The track can get very congested during the peak hours, so don’t expect to easily navigate during these times.

The weight room boasts a collection of benches, free weights and machines, and all are in good condition. Do not forget a towel when lifting weights, however. Students who forget towels must rent one for $1 at the main desk, or else they aren’t allowed to use the weight room. Lockers are available at $1 per visit. If you are a workout buff and will be frequently visiting McComas, a towel can be rented through all accepted for payment. Lockers can be rented for $10 to $20 per semester, depending on the size of the locker.

McComas is currently under renovation scheduled to complete in October, however it might be finished in time for the start of the fall semester.

With the expansion, McComas will increase by nearly a third, adding 26,000 square feet. However, that number is lower than the original 2005 proposal, which called for an expansion of 43,000 square feet.

Weight room expansion, new stretching areas, 100 more cardio machines, including treadmills, cycling bikes and ellipticals, and 30 new bench presses will fill the space.

New technological advances include new exercise TVs, naturally-lit walls and ceilings, Hokie Passport scanners, and 50 large-screen televisions.

HUCKLEBERRY TRAIL

From the Blacksburg Public Library to the New River Valley Mall, there are 5.7 miles of trail for bikers, walkers or runners. You can also get to the trail by heading beyond Lane Stadium on Southgate Drive. 

TENNIS COURTS

There are 12 outdoor tennis courts located across from Lee Hall on the other side of Washington Street. The courts are lit at night, so students can play anytime.

BASKETBALL COURTS

There are two basketball courts on the quad between Pritchard, Lee and O’Shaughnessey halls.

VOLLEYBALL COURTS

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