BLACKSBURG – Coming off one of the best seasons in school history, the Virginia Tech wrestling program will be afforded the opportunity of continuing to build on the foundation in place as the athletic department has approved new facilities for the program as part of the new football locker room and lounge project.

The third floor of the new project will be devoted to the wrestling program, something that head coach Kevin Dresser says will go a long way in turning his program into the national power he aspires for it to be.

“I think it goes with out saying that we are very excited to get into our new wrestling facility in the fall of 2010,” Dresser said. “This certainly demonstrates the commitment made by Mr. [Jim] Weaver and the Virginia Tech Athletics Department to the sport of wrestling and its success. This wrestling facility will be one of the premier wrestling facilities in the nation.”

The new area will include approximately 5,850 square feet of Resilite mat area and another 1,260 square feet of cardio area. The team will also get a new locker room, coaches offices and the room will have a new entrance area.

The walls will be padded and the ceilings will be low with exposed views, giving it a blue-collar feel. The building will be attached to the current Jamerson Athletics Center in what is now a parking lot between the football practice fields and the under-construction basketball practice facility.

The project is scheduled to be finished by fall of 2010. Final plans and numbers have yet to be finalized and approved, so drawings and rendering aren’t available yet. When they become available, they’ll be posted here.