Bulldog Spirit

Worth the Weight

The new Morse Wittwer Sports Performance Center opened on campus in September, creating new opportunities and technology for Fresno State student-athletes to train on the east side of Cedar Avenue.

The dynamic new 6,000-square-foot center is named in honor of Chris and Michelle Morse and Ken and Kristi Wittwer, who donated $500,000 for the project. They are being recognized as the first members of the Marvin and Tish Meyers Champions Circle, an exclusive philanthropic giving society designed to improve the landscape of Fresno State athletics.

The center is located in the North Gym — just steps away from the primary practice facility for men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball. Softball, water polo, swimming and diving and track and field also have more convenient access to a training facility.

Previously, all 18 sports programs shared the Ricchiuti Strength and Conditioning Center on the west side of Cedar Avenue near Valley Children’s Stadium. Now, both spaces can be utilized to facilitate the growing demand with about 450 student-athletes.

The Morse Wittwer Sports Performance Center features unique, customized Bulldogs branding floor to ceiling, with 12 platforms and iPads and technology at each station to track metrics such as barbell speed for various exercises.

“We have always believed in the value of investing in our great university,” Chris Morse says. “Just as Fresno State serves our region and beyond, our Bulldog student-athletes play a significant role as well. They not only bring our community together to celebrate Fresno State, but their impact and contributions as future leaders is invaluable.”

Top Photo: Ken Wittwer (top left) and Chris Morse (top right) spoke at an event introducing the university’s new Morse Wittwer Sports Performance Center in the North Gym. The new 6,000-square-foot center creates new opportunities for Fresno State student-athletes to train on campus, an added convenience for programs like men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, softball, water polo, swimming and diving and track and field — which all practice on the east side of Cedar Avenue.