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Celebrating 20 years 

"About half of the students enrolled at Illinois College are student-athletes. Facilities like Bruner help them feel valued and send an important message that IC cares about them and what they are working toward.

In recruiting, our facilities are helpful from an aesthetic perspective, but the biggest selling point is that an investment has been made in our programs and in our students. That says people believe in what we are trying to achieve.”

Meghan Roman, Illinois College Director of Athletics
 

Thank you for visiting Bruner Fitness and Recreation Center for a self-guided walking tour. As you explore the facility, you can click the links below to learn more information about each of the stops. Enjoy your visit and be sure to tag IC in your pictures (throwback or new) and use #BrunerTurns20 so we can share your photos!

Welcome to Bruner Fitness and Recreation Center!

Bruner Fitness and Recreation Center hosts thousands of visitors each year, including student-athletes, parents, sports fans, prospective students, alumni and community members. Many are impressed by the size and resources housed within the state-of-the-art facility, but here are a few fun facts to really put the building's magnitude in perspective:

  • The building took 20 months to complete and cost $22 million dollars. 
  • The interior is a whopping 155,000 square feet. 
  • Construction took 900,000 pounds of steel, 150,000 bricks and 292,000 feet of wire. 
  • The pool contains 180,000 gallons of water. 

Below are some scenes from the dedication of Bruner.

Honoring Bill Merris ’56 H’01 

Coach Merris once said: “I think the people are what make IC unique. The people at Illinois College are the most important part.” For students, staff, faculty and friends, Bill embodied the kind of life-changing people that are found at Illinois College. The beloved coach died on June 13, 2023, just a week short of his 93rd birthday on June 20.

Read more about Bill's legacy and watch the livestream of his Celebration of Life: www.ic.edu/BillMerris

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Celebration of Life | Sunday, October 15 | 10 to 11 a.m. | Sherman Gymnasium, Bruner Fitness and Recreation Center

Bellatti/Zelcs Fitness Center 

At one time, the Zelcs Fitness rooms were two handball/racquetball courts. See images of the fitness areas and how the space has changes in the slideshow below. 

Men’s Basketball Locker Room 

The locker rooms in Bruner Fitness and Recreation Center are used by Illinois College athletic teams and their visiting competitors throughout the year. Each aspect of the campus and facilities is meant to reflect the mission of Illinois College athletics. 

The mission of the Office of Intercollegiate Athletics is to reflect, reinforce and enhance the educational mission of Illinois College by creating an environment of excellence where student-athletes develop life skills, academic skills, and athletic skills that will enable them to earn degrees, become leaders, and win championships. In all areas of its operations, the Office's student-athletes, coaches, staff, and programs shall embody the character, integrity, and values needed to fulfill lives of leadership and service.

Learn more about athletics at Illinois College here. 

Men’s Sports
Baseball
Basketball
Cross Country
Football
Golf
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis
Track and Field

Women’s Sports
Basketball
Cross Country
Golf
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball

COED
Cheer
Clay Target Team
Dance
E-Sports

The lasting impact of competing in collegiate athletics 

“I learned so much from my coaches at Illinois College about striving to win and not settling for mediocrity. I’m competitive and driven and I probably don’t relax enough. I think a lot of that comes from the coaches I have had and how they have guided me.”

Gerry Beard ’78

Sherman Gymnasium 

#InspiringAchievement

"The first thing that stood out when I visited Illinois College were the top athletic facilities and the fact that the softball field was on campus. That meant a lot to me because I wanted to have a home field where I felt surrounded by the College community. During my four years at IC, I have experienced the “home team” support I wanted and so much more. I have had life-changing opportunities to study abroad with a BreakAway to Spain, to complete student-faculty research through the IC Honors program, and to grow as a student-athlete. I hope future students continue to have these experiences." Annie Schimpf' 23
"The first thing that stood out when I visited Illinois College were the top athletic facilities and the fact that the softball field was on campus. That meant a lot to me because I wanted to have a home field where I felt surrounded by the College community. During my four years at IC, I have experienced the “home team” support I wanted and so much more. I have had life-changing opportunities to study abroad with a BreakAway to Spain, to complete student-faculty research through the IC Honors program, and to grow as a student-athlete. I hope future students continue to have these experiences."

Annie Schimpf' 23
 
Green
“I came to Illinois College wanting to continue my track career. At that time, in 1957, there was no track at the College, nor a fulltime track coach. I worked out alone at the Jacksonville High School track without coaching, being self-motivated and self-disciplined. For all four years at IC, I won the athletic academic award for track. After going to medical school, military service and surgical residency, I continued my interest in sports by practicing sports medicine. Because Illinois College helped me get into medical school, I have felt an obligation to give back to the college financially and with my volunteer time."

Dr. James L. Green ’61

King Fieldhouse

Renovated during the summer of 2020 with a new high-performance surface, King Fieldhouse is the most widely-used facility by the Illinois College athletic department. It not only serves as the home for IC indoor track & field, but it is also used as a practice facility for all teams during inclement weather. Four rubberized courts and two batting cages are available for use within the facility. King Fieldhouse is used during the winter months of the school year for intramural events as well. Watch the video below to see King Fieldhouse in use through the years!

Photo Op!

#BrunerTurns20

Whether you are sharing throwback photos of your favorite memories of Bruner, or reuniting with friends today to make new memories, use #BrunerTurns20 to share your photos with Illinois College so we can repost them!