Jenison Field House
10/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
The Michigan State wrestling team's home is the 5,017-seat Jenison Field House. Featuring one of the nation's only dual meet wrestling platform, fans are treated to a truly unique wrestling experience. In addition, the Spartan wrestling program unveiled a 20-by-25 foot mural on the north curtain in 2001, highlighting former Spartan stars. Banners commemorating MSU's eight Big Ten championships and the 1967 National Championship team hang in the rafters, bordering the platform. In 2001, Jenison underwent an $8 million renovation, and in the fall of 2005, murals were added to the north and south ends portraying the sports held there. Jenison Field House is truly one of college wrestling's most intimate venues.
"Our wrestling venue is clearly one of the very best in the nation," head coach Tom Minkel said. "The wrestling platform allows our fans to be really close to the action."
"MSU's wrestling platform is the only one used for dual meets in the entire nation. That along with the spotlights and the huge wrestling mural behind the scorer's table make our meets unique, entertaining and dramatic".
In 2006, Jenison Field House will once again play host to the prestigious MSU Open, Nov. 12. The tournament, which has been held on two days in the past, has featured over 400 wrestlers from as many as 40 teams around the country in years past. At the 2005 MSU Open, 19 Spartans took home top-eight finishes including one in each weight class. Nick Simmons at 125 pounds and true freshman Rocky Cozart at 165 pounds took home championships, while Franklin Gomez (125), Andy Simmons (141), Darren McKnight (149) and R.J. Boudro (174) were all finalists.
After finishing 3-4 at home a year ago, Michigan State will continue to compete against the nation's finest in 2006-07. The Spartans will wrestle six of the top nine placewinners at the 2006 NCAA Championships, during the 2006-07 season, including No. 3 Oklahoma, No. 7 Michigan and No. 9 Penn State at Jenison Field House.
What they are saying about Jenison Field House...
Assistant Coach and former Spartan All-American Chris Williams:
"The fact that Jenison Field House has so much tradition, combined with our one-of-a-kind platform has created a lot of hype surrounding our home matches at the facility. With the renovations that they have completed in the past few years, I am really looking forward to getting back into that atmosphere and experiencing it as a coach."
Three-time All-American Nick Simmons:
"I love wrestling at Jenison on Friday nights. The crowd is electric, the spotlights are going and you get the full effect of the banner raising. Plus we are the only team in the nation that uses the platform so all eyes are on you to go out and get the job done."
Former Spartan Captain R.J. Boudro:
"It is really an honor to wrestle on the big stage at Jenison. Since I wrestled my first couple years of eligibility at the University of Michigan, I competed at Jenison for the first time as the opponent, and it is a very difficult task. Now, being at State, we have that much more of an advantage with our fans and the atmosphere. The platform is just incredible too. The noise that is makes when your wrestling on it and the way your teammates greet you when you step down off of it is unlike anything else you will find anywhere."
Players Mentioned
