Heinzen Strength Center

About This Facility

The Heinzen Strength Center serves the student-athletes and Wittenberg community at large with a full compliment of state-of-the-art Hammer Strength weight machines and free weights.

The facility is equipped with weight-resistant flooring throughout to accommodate the 64-piece Hammer Strength Weight System and over 15,000 lbs. in free weights, all emblazoned with the classic Wittenberg 'W'.

The weight system, installed at a cost of $350,000, consists of a 13-piece Hammer Traditional system, eight-piece Hammer Ground system, four double Hammer Bench and Rack systems, a Power Lift system, a two-piece Life Fitness Strength system and 16 additional pieces. Six upright bikes flank a padded stretching and cool down area.

The Heinzen Strength Center compliments the Bob Rosencrans Fitness Center at the Athletics Hall of Honor to provide a complete health and physical education facility.

The Strength Center is reserved at certain times for use by varsity athletics teams, but remains open throughout most of the day year-round to the Wittenberg community. Use of the Strength Center requires a Wittenberg student ID or HPER Center pass, available to faculty, staff and a limited number of alumni. A pass also includes access to the Fitness Center, racquetball courts, natatorium, locker rooms and gymnasium. Contact Hope Creasy, facilities coordinator, at 937-327-6469 for more information.

To read more about the dedication of the Rosencrans Fitness Center and concurrent opening of the Heinzen Strength Center, visit the original press release here. Also available are releases announcing the construction of the Fitness Center and renovation of the Strength Center and the opening of the facilities on August 1, 2005.

Steve Heinzen '64

Steve Heinzen, Wittenberg Class of 1964, helped lead the Tiger football team to the 1962 National Championship as a starting defensive back. Over his four-year playing career Wittenberg accumulated a record of 33-2 and two Ohio Athletic Conference titles. While a student-athlete, Heinzen had the additional responsibilities as a husband and father of three children and was named first team All-OAC.

Following his graduation, Heinzen became a graduate assistant with the Tigers and served as a scout, recruiter and utility assistant under Bill Edwards and Dave Maurer. Heinzen's most significant contribution to the football program came as a volunteer scout, traveling ahead of the team to the next week's opponent to plan initial strategies. As a result, he often only saw his beloved Tigers play in their final game of the season. He died in 1984 at the age of 41 due to complications after open heart surgery.

History

The Strength Center occupies what was formerly the McGilvray Natatorium, which opened in 1929 as an original portion of the Field House. The space was converted soon after the construction of the HPER Center Natatorium and subsequent shut down of the old pool in 1982. The university's existing weight and cardiovascular equipment was consolidated there, providing a fitness center for the first time.

In 1993, the area was rejuvenated with new weights and machines and a much needed facelift, enabling the space to more effectively serve campus as both the weight and fitness rooms. Rosencrans Fitness Center became the cardiovascular fitness headquarters upon its opening in 2005, leaving the Heinzen Strength Center devoted to weight training, although several upright bikes remain in the Strength Center.