Penn State’s championship-winning wrestling team trains and competes at the highest levels as members of the Big Ten Conference. Penn State Wrestling holds home matches at both Rec Hall and the Bryce Jordan Center. Let's delve into the features of these facilities and their significance to the program.
Penn State wrestling fans filled the Bryce Jordan Center for the match against Ohio State. Abby Drey Centre Daily Times, file
Rec Hall: A Historic Home
Recreation Building or Rec Hall, as it is more commonly known, is Penn State's busiest and most versatile athletics venue. Five varsity teams call it home. Located in the heart of the University Park campus, the historic structure hosts events for Nittany Lion men's and women's volleyball, men's and women's gymnastics, and wrestling. This old arena was built in 1929 and renovated many times since. Along with volleyball, gymnastics and wrestling takes place here and it was home to the basketball team until 1996.
Fans have packed Rec Hall to its limit at a capacity of 6,846 people on a consistent basis, with Penn State recently adding shuttle services from West Deck on White Course Drive for wrestling events. Heading into Friday, Penn State wrestling has sold out 63 straight events in Rec Hall.
Rec Hall has been the home for 10 national championship wrestling teams, 53 individual champions and 233 All-Americans. The history at Rec Hall isn’t something that should be ignored, according to Aaron Brooks (184). Brooks has seen his career blossom as a two-time NCAA champion, an All-American selection as a true freshman, a Big Ten Freshman of the Year selection and a two-time Big Ten Champion within the confines of Rec Hall.
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When the construction of Rec Hall was completed in 1928, it was considered one of the premiere field houses in the nation. Originally budgeted at $450,000, the final cost of the building amounted to $572,260. The architect, Charles Z. Klauder, chose the Colonial Georgian design to "harmonize" with other new structures on campus. The excavating work required the removal of 12,500 cubic yards of earth and 400 cubic yards of rock, most of which had to be dynamited. The project employed 250 people.
The first addition to Rec Hall was completed in 1953 at a cost of $1,021,310. A 100-foot expansion of the arena was part of the 1963-64 renovation and increased seating capacity from 5,000 to 7,200. Scoreboards, especially designed for Rec Hall and adaptable to several sports, also were installed.
Rec Hall Features and Amenities
- Four concession stands serving staples and unique feature items.
- Student section known as the RECkoning.
- Free admission for students with a PSU ID.
- Parking available at Nittany Deck, West Deck, and Eisenhower Deck.
Rec Hall has a great atmosphere that is really enhanced by the large pep band. The music was enjoyable and they were the ones leading the cheers. When Penn State gets a possession, they yell a letter of “P-S-U” for each touch. Serves also get a big “Whoosh” yell from the band. It was also cool to see a full set of cheerleaders, along with a mascot.
The Bryce Jordan Center: A Modern Venue
Even though one of the worst winters in Penn State history set initial construction back several months, this state-of-the-art, 400,000 square foot multipurpose building, the Bryce Jordan Center, became reality on January 6, 1996.
Bryce Jordan Center duals are special events for Penn State wrestlers - an electric environment that puts the national champions in the spotlight in front of as many as 16,000 fans. The first BJC dual dates back to 1997. Since then, matches at the venue have become can’t-miss events for the Nittany Lions’ growing fan base. Last season, the team returned to the BJC to take on Ohio State with fans cheering thunderously for a winning Penn State team.
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Head coach Cael Sanderson is looking forward to the BJC matches. He coached his first BJC dual on Dec. 8, 2013 - a 28-9 victory against in-state rival Pittsburgh and the event set a then-NCAA record in attendance (15,996 fans). The Bryce Jordan Center is not designed obviously for a wrestling match. You know, the fans are further away than you’d like them to be.
What it's like to wrestle at Penn State! (short film)
Tickets are still available for the BJC duals against Michigan and Iowa. The tickets range from $24-$302 on Ticketmaster for Friday’s dual and tickets for the Iowa dual range from $54-$756.
Bryce Jordan Center Features and Amenities
- Numerous concession options located throughout the main concourse.
- Penn State Bookstore set up on the concourse for wrestling matches.
- Seating capacity up to 16,000 fans.
The Pottruck Wrestling Complex
The Pottruck Wrestling Complex officially opened its doors in October 2013. The new training complex was the final stage of a multi-year wrestling facility restoration. Located on first floor of the Tse Sports Center, the updated facility prominently features a large mat workout area, as well as section dedicated to cardio and weight training. An elevated reception area invites visitors to observe training sessions or provides a dedicated space for team meetings or film sessions.
The Pottruck Wrestling Complex was named after former Penn wrestling student-athlete, David Pottruck W'70, WG'72. The facility was part of a $27.2 million, 98,000-square-foot renovation of the existing Hutchinson Gymnasium.
Competitive Practice Room
Penn State’s grapplers have been taking advantage of a competitive practice room to prepare them for the tough weekend ahead. Two of Penn State’s up-and-comers, 157-pounder Bo Pipher and heavyweight Seth Nevills, have had the privilege of learning in this room, which features some of the world’s premier talent. “Wrestling those guys in here five days a week makes it so that no matter who you are seeing on the weekend, it’s not going to compare to who you are wrestling in here,” Pipher said.
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With past national champions like Zain Retherford, Jason Nolf, and Bo Nickal all training in the same room with the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club, Penn State’s wrestlers are always able to practice with top competition. Since taking over as head coach, Cael Sanderson has molded one of the most competitive wrestling rooms in the country. Sanderson has coached 35 All-Americans and 23 national champions.
Locker Room Enhancements
The existing lockers lacked an enclosed front, exposing the contents and making it difficult to maintain the room’s tidiness. The number of lockers was reduced from 50 to 40 to give each student-athlete more storage and personal space and to align more closely with roster size. The addition of a soffit from the top of the lockers to the ceiling prevents the storage of equipment and personal items above the lockers, contributing to a cleaner room. The soffit also hides the existing wall-mounted air filter from view. Recessed lighting replaces suspended lighting fixtures to reduce the risk of damaged lights.