sport
Augusta University Opens Alvin and Yvette Harris Sports Performance Center
Student athletes at Christenberry Fieldhouse now have expanded room and equipment to train together and recover from setbacks.
How we reported this
Augusta University held a ribbon-cutting ceremony this week to open the Alvin and Yvette Harris Sports Performance Center inside Christenberry Fieldhouse.
The timing matters because university teams here are looking for practical ways to keep athletes healthy and competitive through the season without relying on cramped training areas that limited certain drills.
The center sits within the existing Christenberry Fieldhouse footprint on the Augusta campus, giving local student athletes a single dedicated spot rather than scattered spaces across different buildings.
WRDW News 12 footage from the event shows staff and athletes cutting the ribbon together, with the report noting the space supports both performance gains and injury recovery work.
Training upgrades athletes can use right away
Student athletes interviewed in the WRDW report described the difference in concrete terms. One explained that the old setup left no room for certain lifts and team exercises, while the new equipment now lets groups train side by side. Another pointed out the value of simply having enough space to spend time with teammates during sessions, which helps build cohesion without leaving campus.
Leaders at the ceremony added that the layout also supports athletes returning from injuries, allowing gradual loading and movement work that was harder to schedule before. These details line up with what local teams need during busy semesters when travel and class schedules already cut into practice time.
How Augusta athletes can start using the center
University athletes should reach out first to their sport-specific coach or the athletic department office to confirm access times and complete any required orientation on the new machines. Starting with a team session makes the most sense, since the added floor space is designed for groups rather than solo use. New users will want to focus on the equipment that was previously unavailable in the smaller area, then layer in recovery protocols the staff highlighted during the opening. Checking the facility schedule posted at Christenberry Fieldhouse each week keeps athletes from missing available slots during peak training periods.