Wayne State College

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).

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 has hosted the 2006 and 2008 Northern Sun Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships along with several area high school track and field meets each spring.

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. In the fall of 2010, Cunningham Field had new chair back seats installed in the middle three sections of the west stadium bleachers while the remaining bleacher seats in the west stadium were also replaced. In the fall of 2011 a new video/scoreboard was installed on the north end of the stadium.

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 three 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

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

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/renovated locker rooms for all three teams in 2008; new balcony seats and a new stage curtain in 2007 and a new playing surface installed in 2005.

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, the 2006 Northern Sun Conference Red Baron Women's Basketball Classic and the 2012 NCAA Division II Central Regional Women's Basketball Championships.  

Athletic Weight Room

Recognizing the importance of first-class facilities for their student athletes, the Wayne State College athletic department completed a state-of-the-art renovation to its atheltic facilities in the fall of 2008, including a new weight room constructed at Memorial Stadium.

All Wayne State student athletes have utilized the benefits of new weight room equipment that features 18 platforms and racks, dumbbells and selectorized machines. The facility allows 72 student athletes to work out at the same time.

The project has enhanced Wayne State's ability to attract high quality student athletes and provide current team members the resources necessary to compete at the NCCA Division II level.

WSC Soccer Field

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 scoreboard was put in place along with more bleachers to accomodate the growing population of soccer fans attending games.

For the first time in the program's history, the Wayne State College Women's Soccer team had their own locker room constructed prior to the 2009 season. Part of the $4.5 million dollar renovation to Memorial Stadium and Rice Auditorium included a locker room with shower facilities for Wildcat Women's Soccer. The locker room features custom-built wooden lockers made by Wayne-based Heritage Industries. 

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.

A locker room was constructed 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.

In 2007, a locker room facility and press box was built at the softball field and in the fall of 2007 a new 10-inning scoreboard was installed in right center field on the baseball field. In the summer of 2009 a new wood fence was installed at the softball field with a new electronic scoreboard added prior to the start of the 2011 season.

Wildcat Sports Medicine Center

The new Wildcat Sports Medicine Center, which opened December 1, 2005, brings a state-of-the-art 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 and athletic training services to Wayne State student-athletes.  

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.