Campus holds groundbreaking for athletic fields

On Friday, April 25, Penn State Worthington Scranton held a groundbreaking ceremony for Phase 1 of the campus' Athletic Renovation which includes the new Matt McGloin Baseball Field and additional field enhancements.

Chancellor Mary-Beth Krogh-Jespersen addressed the crowd, which gathered at the site of the future field.

"We at Worthington Scranton are very proud of this project and grateful to the many individuals and organizations  for making it possible," she said. "The creation of this new facility will vastly improve the amenities and playing areas here, and will have a tremendous impact on our student athletes, sports teams and campus community for years to come."

The Matt McGloin Baseball Field is part of the first-phase of a multi-million dollar, three-phase athletics facilities renovation project.

The first phase also includes a new women's softball field, scoreboards, fieldhouse, Sports Information Center, concession stand, bleachers and dugouts and represents an almost $3 million investment in improvements.

Future phases of this project will create a campus wellness center; an auxiliary gym, and major improvements to the Multi-Purpose Building, which will include renovated offices, classrooms, bathrooms, shower and locker facilities, and a new gymnasium.

The second and third phases of this project will also be the first major renovation for the school's Multi-Purpose Building (gym), which was built in 1968.

Since then, the campus' athletics department has grown to include over 100 student athletes participating in eight varsity sports and 11 club and intramural sports and boasts state and national recognition, with its varsity teams winning Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) team and individual titles, national rankings in United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA), and numerous coach-of-the-year honors.

"Penn State and our community recognize that the student experience extends beyond the classroom and they have responded enthusiastically to this project. There has been an increased focus on health and wellness for both students and employees, who utilize the athletic facilities on a regular basis," said PSWS Director of Development Maria Russoniello.

McGloin, an area native and Penn State alumnus, was a three-sport (football, basketball and baseball) standout at West Scranton High School, earning 10 Varsity letters. He began his Penn State football career as a walk-on in 2009, becoming the Nittany Lions' starting quarterback during the 2010-11 season.

In 2012, he was awarded the 2012 Burlsworth Trophy, given by the Rotary Club of Springdale, Arkansas to the most outstanding college football player who began his career as a walk-on.

In 2013, he was signed as an undrafted free agent to the Oakland Raiders football team as a quarterback.