athletics

On Friday, April 11, Washington University in St. Louis will break ground on the new Gary M. Sumers Recreation Center. The center is part of a $54 million renovation and expansion of the university Athletic Complex — the first significant update since 1985.

A suspended jogging track, a three-court gymnasium, state-of-the-art fitness equipment and team locker rooms are among the features planned for the new Gary M. Sumers Recreation Center. The center is scheduled to open in 2016.​​

Washington University in St. Louis has named Vanessa Walby as its new volleyball coach, Athletics Director John Schael announced. Walby comes to WUSTL after a six-year stint as the volleyball coach at the University of Chicago.

After 36 years of leading the Washington University in St. Louis Department of Athletics, John Schael announced he would retire at the conclusion of the 2013-14 school year. Schael’s final day as director of athletics will be June 30.​

The Washington University in St. Louis football team has received a bid to the 2013 NCAA Division III football championship. WUSTL will make its first NCAA appearance since 1999 and second all-time.

Rich Luenemann, Washington University in St. Llouis’ head women’s volleyball coach since 1999, will not be returning to the Danforth Campus following his leave of absence, director of athletics John Schael has announced.

For just the second time in school history, the Washington University in St. Louis women’s soccer team is ranked No. 1 in the National Soccer Coaches Association Top-25 Poll, the association announced last week.

The Washington University women’s soccer team holds a joint practice with the first-grade girls of Christ the King Catholic School. The Bears taught the Royal Knights how to shoot; the Knights reminded the Bears why they fell in love with the game.

St. Louis freshman wide receiver Zach Strittmatter is one of five winners of the 2013 National Football Foundation (NFF) National High School Scholar-Athlete Award, the NFF and College Hall of Fame recently announced.

Washington University in St. Louis graduates Jeff Doyle, Matt Gomric, Michael Lauber and Tim Runnalls sat down with Bear Sports for a question-and-answer session to discuss their four years on the Danforth Campus and what it meant to be named an All-American.