Summer Series: The place the Skylights call home

There's a saying that goes something like "If you build it they will come." In the world of college athletics, that saying rings true.

In the last decade, there's been an explosion of facility improvements in college sports, and while we mostly hear about it at the NCAA Division I level, it still holds true for college athletics all over America.

In other words, it's an arms race for facility improvements, and those that don't, well they get left behind.

At Montana State University-Northern, improvements might not mean the same as they do at places like Oregon, Michigan, Alabama or Duke, but improvements of any kind still mean plenty to the coaches, players and, perhaps most importantly, the future Lights and Skylights who will come to Havre.

So over the next four weeks, the Havre Daily News will take an inside look at four Northern sports who have seen lockerroom upgrades in recent years, starting with the MSU-N women's basketball team.

The Skylights, of longtime head coach Chris Mouat, began an extensive lockerroom upgrade in 2016. The space the Skylights call home all season is small, tucked inside the basement of the Armory Gymnasium. And, at one point, it was in serious need of an upgrade, and thanks to former MSU-N Chancellor Dr. Frank Trocki, that's exactly what happened.

"Dr. Frank Trocki saw, when he was here, that we were all in need of an upgrade," Mouat said. "So it was a generous donation from him that really helped us get there. We wouldn't have what we have to do without his generosity, so we're very grateful to him."

Mouat said that, in July of 2016, the women's basketball lockerroom was essentially gutted, and then, with the help of workers from Northern's physical plant, fresh paint was the first step to the lockerroom being reborn. Then came carpet with a custom Northern logo in the middle, which really enhanced the floor.

But, that was only the beginning.

The biggest improvement to the space was state of the art wood lockers being installed. Each locker has a current players name, a storage space that can be locked at the top of the locker, a cushion seat inside, and more storage space below the seat.

"Our lockerroom is a small space," Mouat said. "But the new lockers we installed, they really help maximize the space we have. They're really nice and our players love them."

Other features were added, as well. There's a time clock on the wall that lets the team know how much time is on the clock in the Armory before games, and during halftime. A custom Skylights white board was also installed, and the finishing touches were things like a full-sized MSU-Northern logo on the back wall, as well as customized placards honoring each NAIA All-American the Skylights have ever had.

And while the upgraded lockerroom has certainly enhanced the experience for all of Northern's players who have been in it since 2016, including the 2019-20 team, which starts its season in the fall, there's also something else it's done, and will continue to do.

"First off, it's a space our players spend a lot of time in," Mouat said. "So, from where it once was to what it is now, it's so much nicer and a lot more comfortable for our kids. It's just a much better place for them to be.

"And obviously, it helps in recruiting," he continued. "You go through the halls in our basement, and you open up the door to our lockerroom, and you see what we have now, it's really nice, and kids are excited by it. So it's a huge help in recruiting, and it will continue to be and I can't thank everybody enough for all they've done for us, and all of our programs here."

Helping in recruiting, enhancing the student-athlete experience. That's the name of the game in today's world of college athletics, and that's the way it's trending at Northern, too. And, now, the Skylight basketball program has a space they are proud to call their own, a lockerroom they enjoy being in, and, at the end of the day that's what it's all about.

Editor's Note: Next Monday, the Havre Daily News will take an inside look at all the improvements that have been made to the MSU-Northern wrestling room and locker rooms in recent years.