CLEVELAND – As Cleveland State Viking teams begin their 50th year of training and competition in Woodling Gymnasium in 2023, Cleveland State Athletics has launched a Woodling Gymnasium Enhancement Initiative.
The initiative is designed to raise funds in celebration of Cleveland State's historic past while embracing the Vikings' championship culture in the classroom, in the community and in competition. Enhancements are projected to include new lighting and sound system, branding and graphics, locker room improvements for several Viking teams (including volleyball, softball, wrestling, fencing, and cross country/track & field), technology, furniture and equipment for the academic center, weight room and training room equipment and cosmetic updates, and an interactive lobby display to honor CSU Athletics Hall of Fame inductees. Individual elements will be phased throughout the course of the funding initiative, beginning with academic center improvements following the conclusion of the 2022-23 academic year.
The Woodling Gymnasium Enhancement Initiative scope includes more than $1 million in total costs and has been propelled by startup gifts and pledges totaling nearly $500,000 from three generous donor families – Pete Granson and Family, Daryl and Jenniffer Deckard, and Clark Broida & Marie Kittredge. Funds raised through the initiative will be invested to provide support of Cleveland State Athletics' academic endeavors, an elevated training and competition experience for student-athletes and coaches, while also improving fan experience for game and event attendees.
"As outlined in our CSU Athletics Strategic Plan, athletics facilities investments are critical to our sustainability as a viable and competitive NCAA Division I program," Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Garrett said. "We have a number of spaces utilized daily by our student-athletes that are in need of attention, so we are so appreciative of Pete, Daryl, Jenniffer, Clark, and Marie for their leadership in creating early momentum, and are excited and eager to find partners to assist in funding these improvements for Woodling Gymnasium and the Physical Education Building."
Broida and Kittredge are longtime supporters of Cleveland State University and the Cleveland community, and through their leadership a new scoreboard and video panel were installed in Woodling Gymnasium earlier this academic year. Their support significantly impacts both student-athlete and fan experience for volleyball, wrestling and men's & women's fencing.
"We are proud of the positive impact that Cleveland State athletics and Viking student-athletes have in the greater Cleveland community, and as fans of many CSU teams, we were pleased to support coach Chuck Voss and the volleyball team, coach Josh Moore and the wrestling program and coach Christine Griffith and the men's and women's fencing teams," Clark, President of Harvard Title Agency, and Marie said. "We wanted to show our support for these great programs and their student-athletes, and to ensure that they have the equipment and support they need to be successful."
The Deckards have been avid contributors to Cleveland State Athletics for many years, and are proud to support Viking student-athletes and their quest to become Champions in the Classroom through renovations to the academic center. In addition to the Deckards' gift, the Vikings also recently received a $100,000 grant through the NCAA Accelerated Academic Success Program last fall, which will be targeted towards the technology, furniture and equipment upgrades in the academic center.
"While at Cleveland State University, student-athletes have been able to achieve tremendous academic success, and it is our hope that the academic center renovations will further encourage these scholarly achievements," the Deckards said.
Since moving to Cleveland in 2019, Granson has been dedicated to helping Cleveland State student-athletes become Champions in the Classroom, in the Community and through Competition. Granson spends time volunteering in the academic center, and his generous gift will be primarily utilized for locker room improvements.
"It all goes back to the student-athletes at Cleveland State University – they are good on the field, but they are even better in the classroom and in the community – and I wanted to help make an impact in that process," Granson said.
Woodling Gymnasium is utilized by the volleyball, wrestling and men's and women's fencing teams to train and compete on a daily basis. In addition to those teams that compete inside Woodling Gymnasium, the softball, lacrosse, cross country/track and field, and swimming and diving teams also have locker room spaces inside the Physical Education building.
The Physical Education building also houses an academic center used by the majority of Cleveland State student-athletes, along with a sports medicine training room that accommodates 16 of Cleveland State's 18 teams, and a sports performance center that is used by 270+ student-athletes on a near daily basis.
Cleveland State supporters who are interested in donating to the Woodling Gymnasium Enhancement Initiative should CLICK HERE to donate online or can contact Assistant Athletics Director for the Viking Fund, Brandon Longmeier at 216-630-2974 for more details.
For more information, please visit CSUVikings.com/50YearsOfWoodling, and make sure to follow Viking Athletics throughout the upcoming year to celebrate the 50 Years of Woodling Gymnasium Moments & Memories and track the progress on the initiative.
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Cleveland State Volleyball Head Coach Chuck Voss on the Woodling Gymnasium Enhancement Initiative:
"The Woodling Gymnasium Enhancement Initiative is something that will have a tremendous impact on the Cleveland State Athletic Department as we continue to strive towards providing
our student-athletes a transformational experience. I know how important being able to play at home is, and how having a home-court advantage can turn a program into a perennial
championship-caliber team – and this Woodling Gymnasium Initiative will enable all of our programs to have that much-needed home court advantage."
Cleveland State Wrestling Head Coach Josh Moore on the Woodling Gymnasium Enhancement Initiative:
"The upgrades to Woodling Gymnasium will greatly enhance the match day experience for our student-athletes and fans, promote our program, and honor our alumni in the gym
that has been our home for 50 years. I look forward to seeing all of the changes come to life in the near future."
Cleveland State Fencing Head Coach Christine Griffith on the Woodling Gymnasium Enhancement Initiative:
"The Woodling Gymnasium Enhancement Initiative means a lot for the Cleveland State fencing program, as our team trains and competes in Woodling Gymnasium on a daily basis.
The updates to our digital display will enhance our student-athlete experience during our home meets and ultimately in their participation as student-athletes."
