by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
The Bolles School on San Jose Boulevard has arguably the best athletic facilities and programs in the area. The dozens and dozens of state titles are testament to that.
In about nine months, things will get even better when the Peyton Boathouse and Rice Family Crew Complex is complete. Ground was broken Monday on the new complex that includes 9,600 square feet of enclosed space, two boat bays, a repair area, a training room and weight room, an office for the crew coach and more.
“I’d have to think the crew program is excited about it,” said John Curran, communications coordinator for Bolles.
The new facility is primarily being funded by Gate Petroleum owner Herb Peyton and the Rice family. Each donated $1 million each toward the construction and related costs, which total about $3 million.
Curran said the school doesn’t compete in crew as an official high school activity like it does in the other sports. However, there is a club program in the fall for the boys and girls teams and in the spring the two squads compete at the “varsity” level. According to Head of Advancement Bob Wenzel, about 85-90 students participate in crew at Bolles.
Wenzel said the facility has been in the planning stages for several years and both Peyton and the Rice family were approached about donating.
“We were absolutely delighted,” said Wenzel about the donations. “It will provide a fantastic look at Bolles from the river and it will be a signature building.”
Wenzel said the architect is from Cambridge, Mass. and specializes in boathouses. The new facility will look similar to the other buildings on the school’s campus.
Later this school year — perhaps between semesters — Bolles will break ground on its new student center, which will be named after James and Patricia Bent.
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