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WSC Facilities
Memorial
Stadium/Bob Cunningham Field
Memorial
Stadium has been "Home of the Wildcats" since 1931 when the
college purchased
11 acres of land for athletic fields. The grandstand was constructed
in 1933. The stadium was officially designated Memorial Stadium
in 1944 following World War II in honor of the Wayne State
students who served in the war. Bob Cunningham Field was named
in 1993 for the Wayne State three-sport Hall of Fame standout
(1936-39).
The press
box was built at the time of the grandstand construction,
with a second level being added in 1969. A remodeling project
to the press box was completed in 2005.
The main
stadium has seating for 2,500 fans and has a natural grass
surface. In 1992, a message board was installed along with
a new crown and irrigation system to the playing surface.
An improved scoreboard was installed in 1995.
Bob Cunningham
Field saw major changes occur in 2003 as a new eight-lane
running track was put in along with new restrooms and storage
facilities along the southwest corner of the stadium. New
lights were also installed during the extensive remodeling
project. Named the Bebee Entrance Plaza, the new restroom
and storage area features heated restrooms that are handicapped
accessible. Cunningham Field hosted the 2006 Northern Sun
Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
 
The Wayne State College Recreation Center opened in 1987
and is the college's main area for student recreation and
selected athletic activities.
The 50,000-square foot recreation center arena is the main
attraction and features three college regulation basketball
courts surrounded by a 160-meter, six lane mondo track that
was installed in the summer of 2001. The arena also has the
capability to provide setup for five volleyball courts, three
tennis courts, nine badmitton/pickleball courts, plus options
for a wide array of other activities. The complex also houses
two separate weight training areas complete with cardiovascular
equipment.
The Recreation Center also houses locker rooms for Wildcat
athletics and offices for the Wayne State athletic department.
The facility has hosted such events as the Northern Sun Conference
Indoor Track and Field Championships (2004) along with numerous
high school and college track meets along with indoor baseball
and softball camps.
 
Carlson Natatorium adjoins the Recreation Center and Rice
Auditorium. The 25-yard long pool is used for a variety of
functions, including lap swimming, aquasize classes, senior
wellness aquasize classes, HPLS classes, intramural activities
and athletic training rehabilitation exercises. The natatorium
is open in the summer for use by the athletic camps and Rec
Center members and was refurbished in 2003.
Rice Auditorium serves as the home for the Wildcat men's
and women's basketball teams as well as the volleyball squad.
Recent upgrades to the arena include: new playing surface
installed in 2005; new scoreboards on the north and south
walls (summer 1998) and new bleachers in the lower level (summer
1996). Its facilities include refurbished locker rooms, classrooms,
a training room and a training facility.
The gymnasium area seats approximately 2,500 for basketball
games and volleyball matches. Named for John D. Rice, Wayne
State College's president from 1951-56, Rice Auditorium was
the site of the 1999 NCAA Division II North Central Regional
Men's Basketball Championships and the 2006 Northern Sun Conference
Red Baron Women's Basketball Classic.
Strength Training Complex
The Strength Training Complex at Wayne State is one of the
finest equipped facilities in the Nebraska State College system.
The 2,400 square foot facility is equipped with a variety
of both free weight and variable resistance apparatus. Six
Olympic benches, six incline benches, eight squat racks, three
hip sleds, two hi-low lateral pull machines and a Pec Dec,
along with a complete assortment of dumbbells help facilitate
as many as 70 athletes without delay. An extensive remodeling
project was responsible for improved lighting, a sound system
and flooring in the strength room. In 1999, more renovations
were made, including painting the walls, additional mirrors
and raising the ceiling in one area for overhead lifting.
Located east of Memorial Stadium and adjacent to the baseball
field, the WSC Soccer Field made its debut in the fall of
1997, in time for the inagural Wildcat soccer season. Prior
to becoming the varsity soccer venue, the field was used as
an athletic practice facility and an intramural playing field.
In 2000, a new scoreboard was put in place along with more
bleachers to accomodate the growing population of soccer fans
attending games.
Pete Chapman Baseball & Softball Complex
The baseball and softball complex opened in the spring of
1996. Located north of Memorial Stadium, the complex provides
a picturesque setting for baseball and softball games. The
complex was necessary after the previous softball field was
converted into a parking lot. In addition, the baseball team
had been playing its games off campus at the local American
Legion field.
New scoreboards were installed on both fields in 2000 with
a locker room facility put in at the baseball field in 2003.
More improvements were made to the baseball field in 2004,
including a concession stand with restrooms and a press box.
A new wood fence was installed on the baseball field in 2005
and 2006 with enhanced batting cages along the left field
line. With the improvements made, the Wildcats boast one of
the top facilities in the NCAA Division II Central Region.
WSC has hosted the last three Northern Sun Conference Baseball
Tournaments.
On April 30, 2006, the baseball and softball complex was
named the Pete Chapman Baseball/Softball Complex. The facility
was named in honor of the late Pete Chapman, who served as
a coach and/or athletic director at WSC from 1983-99. Chapman
was instrumental in the Wildcats' acceptance into NCAA Division
II in 1989 and played an important role inthe change from
independent status to joining the Northern Sun Intercollegiate
Conference in 1999.
Currently, the softball field is in the process of receiving
a locker room with press box installed above the first base
dugout.
Wildcat Sports Medicine Center
The new Wildcat Sports Medicine Center, which opened December
1, 2005, brings a state-of-the-art physical therapy and athletic
training facility to its campus. The 4,000 plus square foot
center is located next to the Wayne State College Recreation
Center and will serve as the hub of treatment and rehabilitation
services.
Dedicated to quality care, the Sports Medicine Center provides
the finest in sports rehabilitation, physical therapy and
athletic training services to Wayne State student-athletes,
campus community and the general public.
In addition to the new facility, the Sports Medicine Center
also utilizes the Carlson Natatorium for the aquatic therapy
program. The Sports Medicine Center represents excellence;
a total commitment by Wayne State College to the health of
its' students and desire to be an active member of the Wayne
community by opening its' doors to the public.
 
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