Since 2004, the Student Recreation and Wellness Center has stood on campus and benefitted thousands of Ichabods. It has provided current students at Washburn a place to improve themselves physically and even blow off some steam between classes. Students can take part in several different activities such as weightlifting, jogging and basketball. Intramural sports and events such as archery skills are also featured at the SRWC on certain occasions where students can compete against each other solo or on teams.

The SRWC has a full gym equipped with stair climbers, treadmills, free weights, exercise bikes, and more. The building also comes with locker rooms that are very clean and have shower facilities for students to use after a workout. A rock wall is also present in the SRWC for students to use and improve their upper body strength and impress their friends. The SRWC has something for everyone, from those who are just getting interested in working out to those who are looking to continue their workout routines on campus.

Alex Solomon, an employee at the SRWC, believes that it is a great place for students to get in shape and learn more about physical fitness. He also spoke highly of how students could participate in different competitions or sporting events together.

“We offer fitness assessment packets where they (students) can get everything from body composition to a fitness prescription to nutrition recommendations. We also offer intramural sports where freshmen can get together with other freshmen or with upper classmen and form teams in different sports,” Solomon said.

Morgan Simmonds, a senior at Washburn, has found that the SRWC offers a great opportunity for students to enhance their fitness between classes and meet new people. For her, the SRWC is highly beneficial and she has continued to use the facilities there since she joined Washburn. According to her, there is no better place in Topeka to get in shape than the SRWC on campus.

“I enjoy working out at the SRWC because it gives me a break from sitting in a classroom all day and gives me the chance to regain my focus. It is also very convenient because it is free to students and is located right on campus,” Simmonds said.

Incoming students to Washburn can benefit from attending the SRWC and taking advantage of all the great programs it has to offer. Many new students this semester will discover that the SRWC is an incredible place that promotes staying fit and keeping in shape while attending college. It can also help freshmen avoid the initial weight gain that is typically experienced by college students during their first semester.

The SRWC is free to all students at Washburn since its access is already covered in tuition costs. The SRWC is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 9 p.m. Intramural sports are starting up soon, so be sure to check their website for upcoming deadlines and other events!