PORT ANGELES — Just as the college soccer season gets going full blast Peninsula College will rededicate its state-of-the-art soccer complex Saturday between the scheduled men’s and women’s soccer games against Whatcom.
The women’s NWAACC game starts at noon on the newly renovated Sigmar Field while the men’s contest follows.
The rededication is between the two games at 2 p.m.
College President Tom Keegan will be the keynote speaker during the dedication ceremonies.
The field is named after Wally Sigmar, who was Peninsula College president from 1994 until 2000 when he died of lymphoma at the age of 53 on June 20.
Special guests at the ceremony will be Sigmar’s widow, Jean, and members of the Sigmar family as well as long-time family friends.
“Wally was a huge supporter of soccer and was also a NWAACC-winning coach while he was at Skagit Valley Community College,” Keegan said.
“I know he would be proud of the new facility and the fact that so many young and promising athletes will be able to play on this incredible new field.”
The refurbished playing surface has artificial turf, the first of its kind on the Peninsula.
It is also one of only a few such playing fields among community and technical colleges in Washington.
Since the field opened April 1, more than 1,400 players have had the opportunity to play on the new surface, including 75 college players, 600 youth athletes, 330 high school-aged players and 400 adults.
The field also has a dedicated walking path around its perimeter, which provides for additional physical fitness options for both players and community members.
Lots of additions
New lighting, restrooms and improved access to the field were also part of the renovation project, which was completed by Premier Field Development, Inc. from Lake Stevens.
Sigmar Field is part of the Wally Sigmar Athletic Complex, which was dedicated in 2000 in honor of President Sigmar.
Sigmar was one of the most successful soccer coaches in NWAACC history, winning five men’s team championships at Skagit Valley — including four in a row from 1977 to 1980.
His fifth title came in 1982.
Sigmar was Keegan’s coach and mentor. Keegan followed in his coach’s footsteps, taking Skagit Valley of Mount Vernon to the championship in 1983.
Sigmar was inducted into the Northwest region college Hall of Fame in 1993 and brought back intercollegiate athletics back to Peninsula College in 1997, starting with men’s and women’s basketball.
