New Sports Complex Offers Variety
By Heather Gale
For Jasmine Jones, learning to be one of the best is important, especially if she wants to reach her goal of going to the Olympics.
After running a few laps to warm up for her training, Jones, a 9-year-old from Myrtle Beach, stops by to sit with her coach and explain that she is in the process of becoming a top gymnast and loves how fun it is trying to get there.
"I love learning new skills and I work really hard," she said while trying to catch her breath. "I want to go to the Olympics someday and I have to work to get there."
In order to have the best possible training, Jones joined her new coaches, Ric Wagner and Lauren Foxworth, at The Plex, the new indoor sports facility located across from Freestyle Music Park.
The Plex not only offers a place for gymnasts to train, but also a place for everyday people and other groups to hang out and stay fit.
Full of state-of-the art equipment and materials, The Plex offers gymnastic courses, a boxing ring, an ultimate fighting octagon, soccer, free weights, billiards, foosball, inflatable mazes and baseball - and that is just the beginning.
Matt Crawley, owner of The Plex and avid sports enthusiast, said he has only started on what he wants to offer for the sports center.
"Right now we have about 100,000 square feet of space filled up," he said. "But, very soon we will have 210,000 square feet of space full of different sports activities."
Crawley, who has been in Myrtle Beach for about 12 years, loves sports and likes to see other people enjoy them as much as he does.
"In the very near future we will have a golf school, a skate park, a roller rink and a place for in-line hockey," he said. "We are also working on creating a pool area for the local teams so they can practice."
Once inside the expansive facility, it is easy to see how so many different sports can coexist in the same building.
Each sport from soccer to baseball has its own area for children and families to play and learn.
"I like the facility a lot," said Whitney Garofalo, a 12-year-old state champion gymnast who now trains at the facility. "I'm glad we get to train here."
Wagner, a three-time coach for gymnasts who've made it to the Olympics, said he chose The Plex because of its location and quality of space.
"We love the building," he said. "Matt approached us and asked us if we would have the school there and we made the right decision. Having so many people in the building doing sports is great. The more the merrier."
Since the economy has caused many families to tighten their budget, Crawley said they are able to come to The Plex, participate in the sports and work out - all without a membership.
"Right now, some people don't want to become members to places," he said. "So we offer the $5 a day fee so they can come whenever they want."
This approach is also reflected in the facility's operating hours (6 a.m. to midnight every day). Crawley said he is just trying to give people what they want.
"People want the freedom to come and go as they please, and to have a lot to do. That is also why we offer wireless Internet for the parents while they are here with their kids," he said. "Our facility can offer people what they want."
In the future, Crawley said he want The Plex to be the largest indoor/outdoor sports complex on the East Coast with elite training year-round.
To find out more about everyting The Plex has to offer, visit www.theplexmyrtlebeach.com.
There are no comments posted. Add yours below.