CAMPBELLSVILLE
UNIVERISTY DEDICATES GOSSER
GYMNASIUM; TIGER WRESTLING GETS A NEW HOME!
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. -- A deep love of students,
coaches, faculty and staff at Campbellsville University has resulted
in a “gemstone
on this side of campus” in the Gosser Gymnasium which was
dedicated April 22.
Dr. Donnie Gosser, a member of the CU Board of Trustees, and his wife,
Anna, of Elizabethtown, made the lead gift toward the construction
of the new gym which will serve as the new home for Tiger Wrestling.
Gosser said he was very appreciative of what CU’s staff, faculty,
coaches and administration do and that he was “very humble.”
“The reason CU is progressing,” he said, “is
that a lot of people feel the same as us. “God is interested
in changing lives, and you are doing the work. We have a small
part in the work, and we really believe in CU.”
GosserGynasium
will be used by the wrestling team for practices and also for hosting
competitions. “It’s a great facility and will be a
great benefit in bringing top recruits to campus,” said Rusty
Hollingsworth, director of athletics at CU. “This is a beautiful
facility that all can use,” he said.
He
thanked those who contributed toward the construction of the building. “We
especially want to thank Donnie and Anna Gosser whose vision and
commitment made this day a reality,” he said.
In
addition to being used as the home for Tiger wrestling, the building
can be used for other events on campus. CU has over 4,000
campers in the summer, and the Gosser Gymnasium will be used for
those young people who come to campus.
There
will also be a walking track that will be used by faculty, staff
and students.
Dr.
Dave Morris, chair of the CU Board of Trustees, said the Gossers
have a “humble generosity.” He said they had mastered
the “fine art of giving.”
 Franky James, wrestling coach, said he began
the wrestling team four years ago in a temporary office where
there were no mats and other equipment. Now, “This facility means we can recruit
top-rated talent and improve our program in every way” James
said. He also said that he plans to begin a youth wrestling program
for Campbellsville and Taylor County.
The CU Wrestling program has enjoyed major success with 13 All-Americans;
a National Champion in Zack Flake; nine Academic All-Americans;
and lead the NAIA with five 2008 Daktronics-NAIA Wrestling All-America
Scholar-Athletes. In 2007 the team placed 7th in the Nation and
this year they placed 14th in the NAIA Tournament.
Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of Campbellsville
University, said the planning for a gymnasium began 2 ½ years ago at
a 7 am. meeting. “Donnie Gosser heard what we needed,” Carter
said, “and said he’d really like to make the facility
possible.”
“To move forward, people must have a vision and see potential
of what can be,” he said. He said the Gossers have become
part of the future of CU. “You are part of the fabric of
CU,” he said to the Gossers.
Lawrence Hall of Elizabethtown, a member of the CU Board of Trustees,
led the prayer of dedication for the building.
Campbellsville University is a private,
comprehensive institution located in South Central Kentucky.
Founded in 1906, Campbellsville University is affiliated with
the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,405
students who represent 98 Kentucky counties, 25 states and 29
foreign nations. Listed in U.S.News& World
Report’s 2008 “America’s Best Colleges,” CU
is ranked 22nd in “Best Baccalaureate Colleges” in
the South and eighth in the South for “Great Schools, Great
Prices.” CU has been ranked 15 consecutive years with U.S.News& World
Report. The university has also been named to America’s Best
Christian Colleges®. Campbellsville University is located 82
miles southwest of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville,
Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter is in his ninth year as president.
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