Pittsford, N.Y. - Two practice fields on the St. John Fisher campus are now taking the shape of the college's new track. According to administrators, crews are ahead of schedule and the project should be done by next summer. Athletic Director Bob Ward says they're already recruiting athletes.
"We have a data base of East Coast athletes that are interested in St. John Fisher College," Ward said.
Now, Fisher has seven new sports for potential student athletes. The college is adding men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field, as well as men's and women's cross country and field hockey.
"We were a school that needed to fill out our offering somewhat," Ward said. "We had 14 sports, this will take us up to 21."
Track and field is considered a "high number" sport, Ward said, and could help increase enrollment. "We're actually looking at 60 to 70 male athletes and 60 to 70 female athletes. You can't get that kind of number unless you go to another football program."
Students, like senior basketball player Will Cornett, believe this type of marketing is important to the college's future.
"It's going to add a lot of teams," Cornett said. "Fisher's a good school, so a lot of people will come, especially since the track's going to be new. I'm sure a lot of kids are going to want to play here."
Those new facilities, coupled with the Buffalo Bills camp held on the campus in August, means even more name recognition.
"It can't hurt," Ward said. "I think it's all about getting your name out there, and I think we're a small, fairly young institution and that's something that we need to develop and need to keep growing on."
Since the new track is eliminating a practice field, the college is adding two practice fields across the street near Fisher's golf course. It will be used for track and field events like javelin, discus and hammer throw, as well as building intramural programs.
