WICHITA, Kan. – Wichita State is proud to announce significant donations by Fred VanVleet, Steve and Regine Feilmeier, and Ricky and Jeanie Brotherton to the Charles Koch Arena Weight Room renovation.
 
The project is made possible in part through substantial lead gifts of $250,000 from Wichita State men's basketball All-American and NBA star Fred VanVleet and longtime Shocker supporters Steve and Regine Feilmeier. In addition to the $500,000 combined lead gift from VanVleet and the Feilmeiers, dedicated Shocker supporters Ricky and Jeanie Brotherton are also contributing a generous gift of $100,000 toward the project.
 
"The Charles Koch Arena weight room project represents a clear commitment to recruitment, development and retention of elite talent within our basketball and volleyball programs," said Director of Athletics Kevin Saal. "Sincere thanks and appreciation to Fred for his generous and transformative initial lead gift; his passion for Wichita State, our basketball program and Shocker Nation is truly inspiring. Additionally, we can't thank Steve and Regine Feilmeier and Ricky and Jeanie Brotherton enough for their steadfast loyalty and partnership in this, and many other, important projects. Their generosity directly impacts student-athlete experiences for future Shockers like Fred, and we remain incredibly appreciative."
 
The renovation to the Charles Koch Arena weight room includes new Shocker branded Sorinex strength equipment, performance flooring, turf, and a nutrition fueling station. The facility also includes a variety of specialized equipment and technology, to enable optimal implementation of speed, agility, conditioning, recovery, and cognitive performance training protocols.

Shocker student-athletes and sport performance staff will have access to the latest innovations in sport science, outfitting the space with force plates, laser timing gates, NBA combine testing equipment, velocity-based training, dynamometers, goniometers, body composition analysis, and heart rate monitoring technology. Additionally, a custom-built athlete management system will serve as a central hub to aggregate, analyze, and visualize performance data.  The renovated space reflects a 360-degree performance model that educates, engages, prepares, protects, and ultimately enriches the overall student-athlete developmental experience.
 
"We are grateful for the support of generous donors who believe in our holistic approach to student-athlete development and are committed to supporting elite athletics programs positioned to consistently compete for championships," said Wichita State Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Ryan Horn. "This project not only transforms the Charles Koch Arena Weight Room into a premier sports performance facility, it provides a unique opportunity to honor the commitment and contributions of past, present and future Shockers." 
 
The Charles Koch Arena weight room project is estimated to cost $1 million. Individuals interested in donating to the project may contact the WSU Athletic Development Office at 316.978.7276.