HWA Wittenberg Complex Attracts Spirit of OHSAA State Championships For Second Straight Year
A little more than two years after completing one of the most extensive construction projects in the University’s history, Wittenberg hosted the first Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Spirit State Championship in December 2021 in its Health , newly renovated and expanded wellness, & Athletic Complex (HWA). Things went so well the first time that they are running it back a year later.
Like the first time, the HWA Complex will be buzzing with excitement as 75 cheerleading teams compete for state titles on Saturday, December 10th. Organizers say the venue was impressive thanks to its 265,000 square feet of indoor space, many renovated lockers. rooms, and seats 3,000 enthusiastic spectators in Pam Evans Smith Arena.
“As someone who studied collegiate athletic administration at two Power Five schools, I was very impressed with Wittenberg’s facilities,” said Meredith Johnson, event coordinator for state associations at Varsity Spirit, which organizes the event in partnership with OHSAA. “The HWA Complex provided a world-class experience that no one else could beat. Between the athletic department and the facilities, we knew right then and there that Wittenberg was the right fit for this partnership. Both the facilities and the athletic department could meet the unique needs of putting on a spirited event, which is not always the easiest task.
“Varsity Spirit is so grateful for our partnership with Wittenberg. We hope to continue to choose Wittenberg or events in the future.”
The 135,000-square-foot Steemer, an indoor artificial turf practice facility surrounded by a six-lane, 300-meter track, provides important stage space for the teams as they prepare for their performances. The historic 1929 Gymnasium, also recently renovated, provides space for teams to practice and merchants to sell equipment and concessions, while the Pam Evans Smith Arena is the competition space.
We are excited to host the second annual OHSAA State Championships for Sideline Cheer. The event takes over almost the entire HWA Complex. We expect thousands in attendance to support all 75 teams from across Ohio.
Agler has worked closely with a Wittenberg classmate to bring the Spirit State Championships to Springfield each year for the past two years. Brian Timm, general manager of sports properties for the OHSAA and another 1980 Wittenberg graduate, says, “As a Tiger alumnus, I always love coming home.
“The combination of Pam Evans Smith Arena and The Steemer makes Wittenberg a perfect venue for us to have our second Sideline Spirit State Championship,” Timm said. “The Steemer provides areas where teams can come together while not competing. It is a great facility for warming up and also serves as a deck location. The Arena is the perfect size for our tournament, and the team is amazing.
“We are also looking forward to the end of May when we will be back for our Boys Volleyball State Championship.”
As Timm mentioned, Wittenberg was also selected to attend the first ever OHSAA Boys Volleyball Tournament May 25-26, 2023. Boys volleyball was sanctioned as an emerging sport earlier this year. State tournaments have previously been organized by the high school coaches association and played on high school campuses, most recently in Pickerington.
A New Standard of Athletic Excellence
Dedicated October 25, 2019, the Health, Wellness & 265,000 square feet completely renovated and expanded; The Athletic Complex (HWA), and its centerpiece, the Steemer indoor practice facility, is already setting a new standard for excellence in NCAA Division III in community engagement and student success.
About Wittenberg
Wittenberg’s curriculum is focused on the liberal arts as an education that develops one’s ability to think, read and communicate with precision, understanding and imagination. We are committed to active, participatory learning in the core disciplines of the arts and sciences and in pre-professional education grounded in the liberal arts. Wittenberg has more Ohio Professors of the Year than any four-year institution in the state, and is renowned for the quality of our faculty and their teaching. On the same subject : How to watch Jaguars at Packers on November 15, 2020. The university is also nationally recognized for excellence in community service, sustainability, and intercollegiate athletics. Nestled among the beautiful hills and valleys of Springfield, Ohio, Wittenberg offers more than 100 majors, minors and special programs, enviable student-faculty research opportunities, a unique student success center, service and study options close to home and beyond. lear, star. athletic tradition, and successful career preparation.
