HUNTINGDON, Pa. -Henry Gibbel, Class of 1957, and his wife, Joanie, have donated $500,000 to Juniata College to fund an artificial turf soccer field and stadium -- to be called the Henry H. and Joanie R. Gibbel Stadium -- which will be part of a $3.5 million athletic facility called the Winton Hill Athletic Complex. Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin this coming spring.
The athletic complex will include the soccer facility, six tennis courts, a locker room and office setup, a grandstand with enclosed press box, and stadium lights for the soccer and tennis locations. The location will be behind Nathan Hall at the intersection of College Avenue and Cold Springs Road.
“Soccer continues to gain on football as the fall sport of choice for men and the number of women who continue to flock to the game is increasing,” said athletic director Greg Curley. “Tennis is also growing in popularity again. The Winton Hill complex truly has the potential to transform Juniata’s ability to meet our ambitious enrollment goals.”
“Juniata College is very appreciative of the continued leadership and philanthropy of the Gibbel family,” said Juniata president James A. Troha. “Henry and Joanie have been passionate supporters of all of our students and this is yet another example of their desire to strengthen our campus community,”
“What impressed me about President (James) Troha’s plan for the soccer stadium is that he’s willing to do it right,” stated Mr. Gibbel, who retired as chair of the Juniata Board of Trustees in
2006 and is chairman of Lititz Mutual Insurance Co. “Juniata really needs it. I think, given the choice between two great academic schools, an athlete will pick the school that has better facilities.”
Gibbel and his wife have been faithful contributors to Juniata since Henry’s graduation. The Gibbels donated to the soccer project because almost all of their eight grandchildren have played soccer. Three have played in college and another played in college and professionally.
Dan Dubois, head coach for men’s soccer, says that once the new soccer complex is finished, Juniata will have one of the best soccer facilities in the Landmark Conference. He adds that some competitors may have better fields or different stadium setups, but taken together, Juniata’s soccer complex will help the program’s recruiting efforts.
“The new facility will make Juniata a destination facility not only for recruits, but also for our opponents,” says Scott McKenzie, associate athletic director and head women’s soccer coach. “In addition Juniata College will become attractive for high school soccer events and NCAA tournament opportunities.”
