LC invites community to 'raise the roof' on new Lincoln Center arena tonight

[January 20, 2010]  Lincoln College is inviting the public to help "raise the roof" as it celebrates the completion of its new state-of-the art arena and the first home games for both the men's and women's basketball teams in this magnificent new facility.

The community is encouraged to join in the fun and help cheer both teams to victory against conference opponent Shawnee Community College on Wednesday. Admission is just $5 for adults and $3 for non-LC students, seniors and children.

Both games will be broadcast live on Lincoln College's radio station WLNX-FM 88.9. You can also listen live 24/7 via streaming audio by visiting www.wlnxradio.com.

Free rally towels to first 250 fans at each game

Lincoln College wants to pack the gym on Wednesday and encourages everyone to wear white shirts to help create a "whiteout" in the new arena. The first 250 fans at each game will receive a commemorative rally towel as they enter the arena.

"The arena was a long time coming, and we are thrilled to have an athletic and convocation center of this caliber on our campus," said an enthusiastic Dave Klemm, the athletic director for Lincoln College. "Frankly, we couldn't think of a better way to commemorate its opening than by inviting the community and Lynx basketball fans of all ages to come out and help us celebrate. It's going to be an exciting night!"

With seating capacity for 1,200, the arena is the cornerstone of the college's new Lincoln Center. Once complete, the complex will also house the Lincoln Heritage Museum's multimillion-dollar collection. The museum is on track to be completed in 2011.

Local sports legends and leaders will toss jump balls

Prior to the start of the women's game at 5:30 p.m., Jan Bowers, an LC alumna and longtime member of the faculty, will toss the honorary jump ball. Bowers was an outstanding multi-sport athlete at Lincoln College. She was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association's Hall of Fame in April 2009 and has taught mathematics at LC since 1984.

Lincoln residents Tom Zurkammer and Allen Pickering will both make the honorary jump ball toss prior to the 7:30 p.m. start of the men's game.

Zurkammer, also an LC alumnus, graduated in 1963. He was hired in 1965 to teach and help with the growing athletics program. Zurkammer coached LC basketball from 1967 to 1970. He retired in 2008 as provost after serving in one capacity or another for more than 43 years.

Pickering coached LC basketball for 16 years. His 1981 team finished second in the NJCAA Division I national tournament. He retired in 2006 as athletic director and vice president of college relations and student services after 36 years with the college.

Key partners in the planning and design of the Lincoln Center at Lincoln College were CORE Construction of Morton, the Farnsworth Group architectural firm based in Normal and owner-consultants from Evan-Lloyd Associates in Springfield.

The senior project architect is John Bishop of the Farnsworth Group. He is a Lincoln College alumnus from the class of 1990.

More detailed information and high-resolution photographs of the facility are available at www.lincolncollege.edu/pr/index.php.

[Text from file received from Lincoln College]