Walston–Hoover Stadium, formerly Schield Stadium, is a stadium in Waverly, Iowa. It is primarily used for American football, and track and field and has a seating capacity of 5,000. The stadium has hosted two NCAA track and field National Championships and multiple NCAA DIII football playoff games, including an NCAA Semifinal in 2023, telecast on ESPN.[2][3]
 Walston-Hoover stadium during the NCAA DIII football semifinals in December of 2023 | |
 | |
| Location | Waverly, IA |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 42°43′47″N 92°29′04″W / 42.7296°N 92.4844°W |
| Owner | Wartburg College |
| Capacity | 5,000 |
| Record attendance | 6,500[1] |
| Surface | FieldTurf (2001–present) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | September 1, 2001 |
| Construction cost | 3.7 Million |
| Tenants | |
| Wartburg Knights football (NCAA) (2001–present) Wartburg Knights track and field (NCAA) (2001–present) | |
| Website | |
| go-knights | |
History
editWartburg College broke ground on a new football stadium and track and field facility for the 2001 academic year. Formerly Schield stadium, the new facility was named Walston-Hoover Stadium, named after longtime residents and supporters of the Knights.[4] The new stadium saw upgrades in home and visitor bleachers, lighting, scoreboard, field turf and all-weather track. The new track allowed Wartburg to now host outdoor track and field meets, something they could not do prior to the renovation due to their old cinder track.
On September 1, 2001, the stadium opened for the first time to the public with a football game against Wisconsin-Oshkosh. The game would be the first night game hosted by Wartburg in school history, the Knights came away with a 31–10 victory.[5]
The stadium attendance record was set on Saturday October 20, 2007 in a football game against Coe College. The homecoming game was a standing room only crowd of 6,500, which saw a 27-3 Wartburg win.[6]
Events
editWalston-Hoover has been the host to two NCAA Division III men's and women's outdoor track and field championships. The first was hosted in 2005, where the host Wartburg Knights women's track and field team would come away with their first NCAA outdoor championship.[7] Lincoln University would win their 7th NCAA title on the men's side.[8] In 2016 the stadium would host for a second time. Wisconsin–La Crosse Eagles would go on to win the men's title for the 14th time, while Illinois Wesleyan would come away with their 3rd outdoor title.[9][10]
References
edit- ^ Kuhens, KatieJo (3 October 2015). "Strong Second Half Propels #6 Wartburg Past Central". go-knights.net. Wartburg Athletics. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ^ Nelson, Jim (December 5, 2023). "College Football: Wartburg College embracing spotlight of Division III semifinal appearance". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ "Division III men's track and field: Wisconsin-La Crosse wins a record 14th outdoor title". ncaa.com. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ Hylton, Sean (July 12, 2001). "Wartburg names new stadium". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ Budlong, Jeff (September 3, 2001). "Knights savor opening night". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ Cross, Matt (October 21, 2007). "Wartburg's Suckow torches former team". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- ^ Nelson, Jim (May 29, 2005). "Wartburg women surge to national title in final event". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ "Division III Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship Results 2000". NCAA. raceberryjam. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
- ^ Tribune Staff (May 26, 2016). "Eagles clinch 2nd straight national title, 14th overall". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ "Illinois Wesleyan claims third national outdoor title". ncaa.com. Retrieved 13 January 2024.