Al B. Carius Track
Named for legendary North Central head men's cross country and track and field coach Al Carius, this state-of-the-art competition venue features a six-lane, 200-meter track, three pole vault runways and two long/triple jump pits as part of a 90,000-square-foot recreation facility which also includes an elevated walking track, four multipurpose athletic courts, locker, athletic training facilities, a video scoreboard, and a fitness center. The facility is located within the Residence Hall/Recreation Center east of Merner FIeld House.
Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium
Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium, which seats 4,839 (temporary seating for 1,050 additional spectators is also incorporated for football games) is home to Cardinal football, lacrosse, soccer, and track & field teams. It was completed in 1999, while the Jay and Dot Buikema Track was resurfaced in 1997 and a Safeplay Plus artificial playing surface was installed in 2002, making North Central the first CCIW institution to play on artificial turf. In summer 2022, Midwest Sport and Turf Systems installed MST Pro-Slit fiber turf. The track was resurfaced most recently in 2015 with a 5mm lift by Benyon Sports. The Don Deetjen Memorial Scoreboard was installed in 2019.
The Stadium has hosted numerous high-profile events, including the Illinois high school boys and girls soccer state finals and the Wes Spencer Crosstown Classic, the annual football showdown between Naperville North and Naperville Central high schools. It also served as the temporary home of the Chicago Fire for two seasons.
Zimmerman Stadium
North Central College's baseball facility, Zimmerman Stadium, which includes Alumni Field, was dedicated in 1999. The home of Cardinal baseball resembles a professional minor league facility, with permanent seating for 650 fans and a fully enclosed and wireless pressbox. In 2021, Musco Sports Lighting LLC installed full LED lights with the Control-Link and Monitoring System and Show-Light Entertainment package. This allowed night games to be played for the first time in program history. The facility has hosted the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association summer state tournament and Major League Baseball's RBI World Series and Area Code tryouts.
Shanower Family Field
Cardinal softball plays at Shanower Family Field. In April 2002, the field was dedicated to honor the family of Don Shanower, beloved professor emeritus of speech communication and theatre and enthusiastic softball fan. The dedication took on added meaning after the Shanower's son Dan, a commander in the U.S. Navy, was among the victims of the terrorist attack on the Pentagon. The field has been host to an NCAA III regional tournament and was part of Major League Baseball's RBI World Series. A press box was added in September 2018. In 2021, Musco Sports Lighting LLC installed full LED lights with the Control-Link and Monitoring System and Show-Light Entertainment package. This allowed night games to be played for the first time in program history.
Merner Field House
Merner Field House is home to the basketball, volleyball, and wrestling teams. With 2,420 seats in the field house, a lot of spectators can come and watch. Also, a pool and weight room are housed in the Field House.
Nichols Gymnasium
On the second floor of Merner Field House is Nichols Gymnasium, home to the North Central College wrestling teams. The Cardinals conduct their daily practices in Nichols, a 5,000-square-foot arena that has permanent wall-to-wall mats, as well as cardiovascular and weight training equipment. A trophy case displaying mementos of the program's proud history is also housed in the facility.
|
