Illinois State Athletics announced on Mar. 12 that the hitting bays inside the Jim and Carole Mounier Golf Performance Lab at Weibring Golf Club will be named the Percy Family Hitting Bay and the Sarah Loomis Hitting Bay. The naming follows a significant investment in the Redbird golf programs, approved by the Illinois State Board of Trustees on Feb. 20, with installation of the new facility now underway.
The decision to name these spaces recognizes contributions from former student-athletes Rick Percy and Sarah Loomis, whose support aims to enhance opportunities for current and future Redbird golfers. According to the official website, Illinois State Redbirds benefits from the Redbird Athletics Excellence Fund for competitiveness and recruitment, which supports such facility improvements according to the official website.
“We are incredibly thankful for the Percy Family and Sarah Loomis, who have stepped up to support our golf student-athletes,” ISU Director of Athletics Dr. Jeri Beggs said. “We are thankful for their dedication to providing quality facility improvements for our golfers, which will help continue to make the Mounier Golf Training Center at Weibring Golf Club even better than it is now. Rick and Sarah know first-hand from their time spent at ISU the type of experience we can give to our student-athletes and the lasting impact it can have on their future. We thank them both for their continued generosity and passion for Redbird Athletics.”
Rick Percy is an Illinois State graduate who has long supported Redbird athletics, including through leadership roles in local business and community initiatives. “Golf has always been an important part of my life, and the values it teaches—hard work, integrity, and perseverance—are ones my family believes in deeply,” Percy stated. “Supporting Illinois State golf is something we chose to do together, as a way to give back to a program and a game that have given so much to me. As a family, we’re proud to help create opportunities for today’s student athletes to grow, compete, and build their own lifelong connection to Redbird Golf.” Loomis also reflected on her experience: “My time as a student-athlete helped shape my work ethic, my values, and ultimately the path my life has taken,” she said.
The new performance lab features year-round hitting bays with heaters, simulator screens powered by Foresight software with GC Quad launch monitors, video feedback capabilities from multiple angles, and GASP force plates soon to be added. The larger training center includes target greens across rolling terrain with various grasses and bunkers designed for comprehensive practice scenarios.
ISU head men’s golf coach Ray Kralis said: “The Percy Family has been so generous in support of Redbird Athletics and the golf program over the years…we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Rick and Kim for helping make this dream a reality.” Women’s golf head coach Jackie Szymoniak added: “Our program is beyond thankful to Sarah Loomis for making a positive impact on Redbird Golf…this generous gift enhances the pathway to recruit, retain and develop current and future Redbirds.”
Illinois State Redbirds competes in NCAA Division I events across various regions according to its official website. The athletic department utilizes facilities like OSF HealthCare Athletics Training Center for student-athlete preparation, while offering news updates, schedules, rosters, fan resources to bolster its community, all as part of Illinois State University according to its official site.
