Indiana University Dedicates Wilkinson Hall
1/16/2019 1:05:00 PM | General, Women's Volleyball, Wrestling
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – An exciting chapter begins today for Indiana University Athletics, as IU held the official dedication ceremony for a new, state-of-the-art, 3,000-seat facility - Wilkinson Hall.
Wilkinson Hall is a multi-use training and performance center that is the new home venue for the Indiana Volleyball and Wrestling programs. Consistent with the university's master plan, the facility brings these two programs' home competitions back onto the IU Athletics campus from their former University Gymnasium home at the intersection of 10th Street and the 45/46 bypass.
In addition, Wilkinson Hall will provide the entire Indiana University Athletic Department and its programs with a new top-flight facility for year-round training, and will serve as a venue to host department and university events.
Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie presided over the dedication ceremony, which took place in Wilkinson Hall. Others making remarks included Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass, IU Volleyball Coach Steve Aird, IU Wrestling Coach Angel Escobedo, benefactor Jay Wilkinson as well as student-athletes Kendall Beerman (Volleyball) and Jonathan Moran (Wrestling).
"Today, as we dedicate Wilkinson Hall, we celebrate a state-of-the-art new home for Indiana University's wrestling and volleyball programs, as well as a new building that consolidates all of IU's major athletic facilities into one neighborhood," said IU President Michael A. McRobbie. "In this splendid arena, IU student-athletes will demonstrate the dedication, fight, pride and resilience that are the hallmarks of IU Athletics."
Wilkinson Hall is named after IU alumnus Jay Wilkinson and his family, in recognition of their $10 million major gift to the "For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign." This is the latest and largest gift from the Wilkinson family, who have an incredible history of support for IU Athletics and its student-athletes.
"We are very excited to open Wilkinson Hall and are tremendously grateful to Jay and his family for their critical role in making this day a reality," said Glass. "This state-of-the-art, multi-use facility is the final piece of the Master Plan to complete the Athletics campus. While a game-changer for our Wrestling and Volleyball programs, it will also support all of our programs through indoor training as well as the Department and University through hosting special events. Again, we thank Jay and his family for their extraordinary impact on our student-athletes over the years."
In addition to their $10 million gift toward the construction of Wilkinson Hall, the Wilkinson family has also supported IU Athletics in countless other ways. In 2012, the family donated $1 million toward the North End Zone's strength and conditioning facility, which was renamed the W. Jay and Nancy Wilkinson Performance Center. In 2016, the family endowed the Nancy Wilkinson Athletic Scholarship in honor of Jay's late wife. Jay, meanwhile, currently serves on the Varsity Club's National Board of Directors. Jay and his wife Melissa, also an IU alumna, were joined by their four children, family, and close friends for the dedication.
"We are very pleased to be in a position to support Indiana University and IU Athletics, which have been such important parts of our lives," said Wilkinson. "This is a beautiful venue that complements IU's world-class athletics facilities perfectly. We are excited about what it means for our very deserving student-athletes of the present and of the future."
Wilkinson Hall played host to its first event on Sunday, as Escobedo's Hoosier wrestling program posted a 36-3 win over Maryland. A boisterous Hoosier crowd – which included more than 30 IU Wrestling alumni – was on hand for the Hoosiers' most lopsided conference win in 17 years. The wrestling program has four remaining home matches at Wilkinson Hall this season (Jan. 27 vs. Penn State, Feb. 8 vs. Rutgers, Feb. 9 vs. Stanford, and Feb. 24 vs. Chattanooga), while Aird's volleyball program will get their first chance to compete in their new home venue in the fall.
For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign is taking place on all IU-administered campuses including IU Bloomington, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, IU East, IU Kokomo, IU Northwest, IU South Bend, and IU Southeast. The campaign will conclude in December 2019 to coincide with IU's bicentennial year celebration in 2020. To learn more about the campaign, its impact, and how to participate, please visit forall.iu.edu.
Wilkinson Hall is a multi-use training and performance center that is the new home venue for the Indiana Volleyball and Wrestling programs. Consistent with the university's master plan, the facility brings these two programs' home competitions back onto the IU Athletics campus from their former University Gymnasium home at the intersection of 10th Street and the 45/46 bypass.
In addition, Wilkinson Hall will provide the entire Indiana University Athletic Department and its programs with a new top-flight facility for year-round training, and will serve as a venue to host department and university events.
Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie presided over the dedication ceremony, which took place in Wilkinson Hall. Others making remarks included Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass, IU Volleyball Coach Steve Aird, IU Wrestling Coach Angel Escobedo, benefactor Jay Wilkinson as well as student-athletes Kendall Beerman (Volleyball) and Jonathan Moran (Wrestling).
"Today, as we dedicate Wilkinson Hall, we celebrate a state-of-the-art new home for Indiana University's wrestling and volleyball programs, as well as a new building that consolidates all of IU's major athletic facilities into one neighborhood," said IU President Michael A. McRobbie. "In this splendid arena, IU student-athletes will demonstrate the dedication, fight, pride and resilience that are the hallmarks of IU Athletics."
Wilkinson Hall is named after IU alumnus Jay Wilkinson and his family, in recognition of their $10 million major gift to the "For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign." This is the latest and largest gift from the Wilkinson family, who have an incredible history of support for IU Athletics and its student-athletes."We are very excited to open Wilkinson Hall and are tremendously grateful to Jay and his family for their critical role in making this day a reality," said Glass. "This state-of-the-art, multi-use facility is the final piece of the Master Plan to complete the Athletics campus. While a game-changer for our Wrestling and Volleyball programs, it will also support all of our programs through indoor training as well as the Department and University through hosting special events. Again, we thank Jay and his family for their extraordinary impact on our student-athletes over the years."
In addition to their $10 million gift toward the construction of Wilkinson Hall, the Wilkinson family has also supported IU Athletics in countless other ways. In 2012, the family donated $1 million toward the North End Zone's strength and conditioning facility, which was renamed the W. Jay and Nancy Wilkinson Performance Center. In 2016, the family endowed the Nancy Wilkinson Athletic Scholarship in honor of Jay's late wife. Jay, meanwhile, currently serves on the Varsity Club's National Board of Directors. Jay and his wife Melissa, also an IU alumna, were joined by their four children, family, and close friends for the dedication.
"We are very pleased to be in a position to support Indiana University and IU Athletics, which have been such important parts of our lives," said Wilkinson. "This is a beautiful venue that complements IU's world-class athletics facilities perfectly. We are excited about what it means for our very deserving student-athletes of the present and of the future."
Wilkinson Hall played host to its first event on Sunday, as Escobedo's Hoosier wrestling program posted a 36-3 win over Maryland. A boisterous Hoosier crowd – which included more than 30 IU Wrestling alumni – was on hand for the Hoosiers' most lopsided conference win in 17 years. The wrestling program has four remaining home matches at Wilkinson Hall this season (Jan. 27 vs. Penn State, Feb. 8 vs. Rutgers, Feb. 9 vs. Stanford, and Feb. 24 vs. Chattanooga), while Aird's volleyball program will get their first chance to compete in their new home venue in the fall.
For All: The Indiana University Bicentennial Campaign is taking place on all IU-administered campuses including IU Bloomington, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis, IU East, IU Kokomo, IU Northwest, IU South Bend, and IU Southeast. The campaign will conclude in December 2019 to coincide with IU's bicentennial year celebration in 2020. To learn more about the campaign, its impact, and how to participate, please visit forall.iu.edu.
Players Mentioned
Outside Hitter
/ Women's Volleyball
/ Wrestling
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