November 11, 2005
Purdue dedicates larger, improved wrestling training center
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University at 5:30 p.m. today (Friday, Nov. 11) will dedicate a new wrestling practice facility to create a larger and more versatile space for the wrestling team.
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The Blake Wrestling Training Center, located in Lambert Fieldhouse adjacent to Mackey Arena, was the former home of the Purdue swimming teams. After $600,000 in renovations to the area that had housed the pool, the new center contains more than 4,800 square feet of unobstructed wrestling practice space, a cardiovascular training area, a video room, two new scoreboards, a new lighting and ventilation system, and state-of-the-art wrestling mats.
The training center is named for Norman P. and Karen Blake of Carmel, Ind., the lead donors in the project's fund-raising effort.
In addition to providing top-notch practice facilities, the renovated center also makes a statement of support for the wrestling team, said Purdue President Martin C. Jischke.
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"Wrestlers from Purdue have had a great deal of success lately, including seven All-Americans and three Big Ten champions in the past five years," he said. "But even more importantly, our wrestlers are learning lessons that will last a lifetime, such as hard work, determination and working toward goals of all kinds, on and off of the mat."
Morgan Burke, Purdue athletic director, said the facility will help with recruiting.
"Purdue attracts a lot of top wrestlers to its program, and the new training facility is a great way to draw more talent to the team," he said. "Sometimes potential recruits' decisions may come down to which university has the best facilities, resources and support."
Jessie Reyes, head wrestling coach, said the center also will make the team stronger.
"For the first time, all the Purdue wrestlers will have enough space to practice as a team," he said. "We are grateful to the Blakes, as well as to the other contributors, for helping to provide Purdue wrestling with a magnificent new training center."
In addition to the Blakes, nearly 200 wrestling alumni, fans and friends contributed to make the renovation project possible.
Donors included Bob Holloway of Middletown, Ky., Sandford and Priscilla Johnson of Brownsburg, Ind., and Dr. Donald Shelbourne and the Shelbourne Clinic at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.
Norm Blake, a longtime donor to Purdue's Intercollegiate Athletics and academic departments, said he hopes his family's gift to the wrestling center will help generations of athletes.
"When I was in high school, my participation on the school's wrestling team taught me countless lessons about success – both in the ring and in other areas of my life," he said. "I would like this new training center to help provide those same lessons to Purdue wrestlers now and in the future."
Norm Blake earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Purdue in 1965 and 1966, respectively. Purdue presented him with an honorary doctorate in economics in 1995. He has served as CEO of the U.S. Olympic Committee and as former chairman, president or CEO of several Fortune 500 companies. He is a member of the Krannert School of Management's Advisory Council.
Karen Blake earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Purdue in 1965.
Among their donations to Purdue, the Blakes have funded the Blake Family Endowed Chair of Strategic Management in the Krannert School of Management.
Purdue wrestlers began practice in the new training center Oct. 12. Thirty-seven wrestlers hit the mats this season for Purdue.
Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu
Sources: Martin C. Jischke, (765) 494-9708
Morgan Burke, (765) 494-3189, mjb@purdue.edu
Jessie Reyes, (765) 494-9137, jvreyes@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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