WAVERLY SPORTS COMPLEX, BX STRENGTH & SPEED CELEBRATE OPENING; CHECKS PRESENTED TO WAVERLY HIGH, WAVERLY REC. (3 PHOTOS) (2023-09-28)

By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
WAVERLY — The Waverly Sports Complex, located here at 533 Broad Street, and BX Strength & Speed celebrated a ribbon-cutting through the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce here Wednesday afternoon.

Aside from BX Strength & Speed, the Waverly Sports Complex also offers baseball and softball instruction with Division I and local coaches. Future plans include soccer instruction as well.

It is also available to rent for teams looking to get out of the inclement weather, or looking for practice time at night, or during the winter.

BX Strength & Speed founder Rob Baxter, who is a Binghamton High graduate, and a former Division I basketball player at Fordham, is excited to expand his program into Waverly.

“We are expanding our BX Player Development, which is a strength and speed organization for competitive athletes … we’re located in Binghamton, but we’re expanding our operations into the Waverly Sports Complex to service young athletes and their families,” said Baxter.

The strength and speed program is generally a nine-week program, with two sessions per week, that runs concurrently with the high school sports seasons, as well as summer sessions.

“A lot of times we’ll have basketball players training with us in the fall, so we’ll end our sessions a week or two before the winter season begins,” said Baxter.

“During the winter, we’ll have a lot of fall athletes who may not play a winter sport training for baseball, lacrosse, or track in the spring,” he added.

Waverly Superintendent of Schools Eric Knolles believes the Waverly Sports Complex and BX Player Developments offers a tremendous opportunity for Valley athletes.

“It’s always good to see new businesses on Broad Street,” said Knolles.

“Rob Baxter has a good reputation and we are pleased to welcome him to the Valley,” he noted.

“The ability to bring college level coaches and clinicians has a positive impact on our Valley kids and sports teams,” he added.

After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the Waverly Sports Complex in conjunction with BX Player Development, and Smith Brothers Insurance presented a pair of $1,5000 checks.

Waverly Sports Complex’s business manager Natalie Richetti presented a check to Waverly Mayor Andrew Aronstam a $1,500 donation for the Waverly Recreation Department.

Mike Constantine of Smith Brothers Insurance presented a $1,500 check to Knolles for the establishment of a scholarship at Waverly High School. “The Spirit of the W Scholarship” will be presented annually to “to an athlete who is an exceptional teammate, is uplifting and always making the team and his / her teammates better.”

“Our goal is to provide a place for Valley and surrounding area kids to train, learn and grow,” said Richetti. “With these donations to (Waverly High School) and the Rec. Department, we hope to be able to help provide that.”

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IN PHOTO 1: Rob Baxter (center right) and Natalie Richetti cut the ribbon for the opening of the Waverly Sports Complex, as well as BX Player Development. IN PHOTO 2: Mike Constantine presents Waverly Superintendent Eric Knolles with a check for $1,500 to establish a new scholarship at Waverly High School. Also shown are Natalie Richetti and Rob Baxter. IN PHOTO 3: Waverly mayor Andrew Aronstam accepts a $1,500 donation from Waverly Sports Complex business manager Natalie Richetti. They are flanked by Mike Constantine (left) and Rob Baxter. … PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.