With fist pumps, cheers, and applause, Delta College athletes and the Delta community celebrated a homecoming of a different sort on Saturday as Delta's athletics fields officially reopened following two years of extensive upgrades.
The projects, funded by voter-approved Measure L tax dollars, include state-of-the-art football, softball, and baseball fields, as well as a new track, all comprising the Chase Chevrolet Athletic Complex.
"Today we celebrate more than new turf, track, and fields," said Delta College Superintendent/President Dr. Lisa Aguilera Lawrenson. "We celebrate an investment in student success, safety, and Mustang pride. Most of all, we celebrate our athletes returning home after two years of construction.
"These facilities are a testament to our belief that athletics are not just about competition, but about teamwork, resilience, and excellence on and off the field."
On the field, Delta athletics routinely finishes among the top California community colleges for overall athletic success, with both teams and individuals competing for state championships.
"Now our exceptional athletes will have the facilities they deserve," Dr. Aguilera Lawrenson said.
But Delta's student athletes also thrive off the field, with roughly half earning a 3.0 GPA or higher, roughly one-quarter earning a GPA of 3.5 or higher, abnd 80 to 100 students transferring to a university each year.
The track upgrades will reduce injury risk and enhance athletic performance, helping to recruit top talent and strengthen Delta's athletics reputation across the state.
Dr. Aguilera Lawrenson thanked the community for its investment in Delta College and in the new athletics facilities.
"Let’s hear it for our Mustangs," she said, "and for the bright seasons ahead on these beautiful new fields."
A closer look
Aerial images of the new facilities:
