August 7, 2015 

 

Contacts:

Aaron Murrish, Recreational Activities, 657-2884
University Relations, 657-2266

 

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Glowing athletic director, Aaron Murrish, can鈥檛 wait for students to be  welcomed by a renovated fitness center.

 

New exercise equipment and space gives rec center gym a world class experience 

 

 

MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES 鈥� Where worn out carpet once lay, student athletes and those wanting to stay or get into shape now find plush flooring and a vista of new equipment in the Montana State University Billings rec center gym.

 

The renovations, 15 years in the making, mean there are now about 600 square feet of new space in the work out room and some 20 new stations.

 

In between free-weight reps, radiology major Kyla Chamberlain said the remodel and additions to the student facility were a marked improvement.

 

鈥淏efore, it was clustered and hard to work out,鈥� Chamberlain said. 鈥淭here wasn鈥檛 a lot of room. Now, it鈥檚 nice.鈥�

 

She said before the remodel some of the workout equipment looked 鈥渟ketchy鈥� and she hesitated to use it.

 

鈥淭he equipment is now new and it looks safe,鈥� Chamberlain said. 鈥淭here are a lot more to choose from, too. It鈥檚 important to work out for mental and physical fitness so I think it鈥檒l be a lot easier with the improvements they鈥檝e made down here.鈥�

 

Chamberlain鈥檚 friend and workout buddy, Netasha Lovato, 20, agreed.

 

As an outdoor enthusiast from Colorado, staying in peak physical condition is extremely important for the sophomore. After injuring her knee as a high school student, Lovato is keen on making sure it doesn鈥檛 happen again and she hits the gym regularly.

 

""Lovato says the upgrades are day and night compared to last year.

 

鈥淏efore, this gym said, 鈥榮mall college gym,鈥� Lovato said. 鈥淏ut, Billings has a lot more going on and now this gym is keeping up. This gym will help encourage students to attend. The renovations are a big improvement.鈥�

 

So far, Lovato is really impressed with the new assisted pull up and squat machines.

 

She and Chamberlain are in the gym almost daily, when they aren鈥檛 enjoying Billings鈥� other outdoor activities.

 

鈥淔or students whose lifestyle is in being outdoors or sports the gym is an important part to that,鈥� Lovato said. 鈥淣ow, we don鈥檛 mind being in here all the time.鈥�

 

Recreational Director Aaron Murrish said the gym is now about 3,200 square-feet with the new space and it boasts several new mirrors, increased air flow and several new machines. Many of the elliptical trainers, as well as weight machines have been replaced, as have free-weight pieces on the floor.

 

鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to have these improvements completed for the upcoming semester. These improvements will be enjoyed for years to come,鈥� Murrish said.


As the cost is included in tuition and fees, MSU Billings students can utilize the gym free of charge.

 

PHOTOS: 1) Recreational Director Aaron Murrish; 2) 顶级国产视频 sophomore Netasha Lovato, 20, works out on new equipment in the student rec center gym on August 2. The expanded facility and upgraded equipment debuted on July 1.