Since indoor track & field athletes reported back to campus in early January, the new Wildcat Dome has been utilized while also assisting with the upcoming spring sports seasons.
With the only facility in Nebraska to offer a six-lane, 300-meter track, excitement is in the air with an upcoming home indoor meet set for Saturday, February 8.
With the Wildcat Dome being a training facility without permanent seating, it is designed to host smaller meets.
Director of Athletics Mike Powicki said the Saturday, Feb. 8 meet will be a good test for the athletic department who have met and talked through what it’s going to look like.
“Everything from ticketing, concessions, fan and patron wayfinding and all those kinds of things,” Powicki added. “Where team warm-up areas are going to be, certainly as the Rec Center comes fully online which we’re on progress there; that will help as well too. Really excited to not only utilize the facility for a competition but of course showcase it to others.”
The inaugural WSC Wildcat Indoor Track & Field Classic inside the new Wildcat Dome will be on Saturday, Feb. 8 and open at 10 a.m. for field events followed by running events at 12:10 p.m. with free admission. Teams joining WSC will be Chadron State, Midland University, Northwestern College, Morningside College, Benedictine College, Sioux Falls and Southeast Community College.
The last indoor collegiate meet was held inside the Rec Center on Jan. 16, 2021 (per head coach Marlon Brink) hosting Chadron State, USF and Augustana. There was an indoor meet in 2023 for high school teams as well.
As of late January, work is about 95% complete with a few adjustments being made on the netting system which protects the turf from the track along with golf practice area wrapping up the golf simulators.
Powicki added some concrete work will be finalized on the east side of the Rec Center and around the dome with sidewalks and driveways thanks to the late January warm weather.
“We have a couple light poles that need to go up that will provide some security lighting but also illuminate the dome which we are pretty excited to showcase that when it’s night out,” Powicki added. “Then externally we still have to feather out the ground a little bit, we got to put some irrigation, plant grass seed and all that stuff will happen this Spring.”
Another large part of the Athletic and Recreation Complex (ARC) project is enhancing the overall wellness and activity opportunities for the general student population which is important to Wayne State College.
Powicki mentioned all the cardio equipment will be brought into an open concept.
“More on the west side,” Powicki mentioned. “Something you’re traditionally seeing in more newer wellness centers. So, all of our cardio equipment and some of select weight equipment will be out there…Really our cardio rooms now are going be converted into multi use rooms for teaching classes and group fitness.”
A fully functional netting system will come up and down to protect the four new courts (previously three courts) from the two-lane walking/jogging track which replaced the previously 160-meter track inside the Rec Center.
The general restroom and locker room will be in the Rec Center along with a UV sauna which is getting a lot of use.
The alley way located just north of the west entrance to Rice Auditorium has been closed in and the lower level converted to the new general student weight room (tripled old weight room which will now be used for a secondary varsity weight room). The upper level will be a phenomenal show piece with great study space and relaxation space for all students. Also, those who park in the main parking lot on the east side of the Rec Center will be able to enter on that side of the building and buy a ticket and enter Rice Auditorium once fully open.
The goal would be for full occupancy at the end of February with the fourth court completed in March. As of early February, the Rec Center is 50% open with the cardio and weight room areas to be complete this week which would increase more towards 90% complete when done.
