Wheeling, W. Va. – Months of planning and preparation culminated on Tuesday when Wheeling University officially broke ground on the Bishop Schmitt Field Stadium Improvement Project. University officials were joined by The Most Reverend Mark E. Brennan, Bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, as well as representatives from Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration, WesBanco Bank, Wheeling Central Catholic High School and the City of Wheeling, to celebrate the next chapter in the story of Bishop Schmitt Field.
"Everyone associated with our university is deeply grateful for the generous support of Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration and WesBanco Bank," said Wheeling University President Dr. Dianna Vargo. "Your generosity will allow us to complete the Stadium Improvement project and enhance campus life for all our students. Both of you represent all that is good with the Wheeling community. You support our students, you hire our graduates, and you are there when the administration needs you. Wheeling University is privileged to call you our partners and are humbled by your generosity."
Helping make this project possible were generous pledges from Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration and WesBanco Bank, each of which pledged $500,000 toward the Stadium Improvement Project. Mr. Robert Contraguerro Sr. and Tom Contraguerro from Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration, along with (Insert Name Here) from WesBanco, were on hand for the ceremony and took part in the groundbreaking. Joining them was Wheeling Central Catholic Director of Alumni Relations and Special Programs Mike Young, as the school will share the facility with the Cardinals throughout the 2026-27 season.
On a sunny afternoon, Phase One of the stadium improvement project began. Included in this phase of the project will be a brand-new turf playing surface, as well as the installation of long jump and pole vault pits. Following phase one of the project, will be renovations to the track and a new stadium scoreboard. In total, the project is estimated to be a $2 million renovation, creating a state-of-the-art environment for Wheeling University student-athletes to practice and compete every day.
"This would not be possible without the endless support of our Bishop, our Dioceses, the endless work ethic of our leaders, President [Dr. Dianna] Vargo and our board members with Chairman Mr. David Hendrickson, and the generosity of our community partners Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration and WesBanco Bank," said Wheeling University Athletic Director Carrie Hanna. "We are so grateful and so blessed to be able to improve these facilities for our student-athletes, who come from over 30 different states and 30 different countries all over the world, and for our community. It gives us the opportunity to host events like the OVAC All Star Game, The Battle of the Champions, Special Olympics, and many more to come. We want to be Wheeling's University and we are excited for the community to come out and enjoy this beautiful campus."
Work on Phase One is officially set to begin this week, as crews from AstroTurf arrive to remove the existing turf at Bishop Schmitt Field. Once it is removed, crews will ensure the base is up to code while reinstalling the long jump and pole vault pits. Beginning June 22, the new turf will arrive and be laid on the existing field base. In total, the installation process is expected to take approximately three weeks, with the first phase of the project scheduled for completion before the start of the 80th annual Rudy Mumley Memorial OVAC All-Star Football Camp on July 13.
The event wrapped up with The Most Reverend Mark E. Brennan of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston taking the podium to bless the project. Earlier this summer, the university celebrated Bishop Brennan's 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood and was honored to welcome him back for this momentous occasion.
"The Catholic faith has a holistic sense of human beings where its not just a soul and a mind, but also a body and all parts of us need to be developed," said Bishop Brennan. "Athletics and sports are not foreign to our faith and are often very important parts of it. May God Bless this field for the good use of all who use it."
The Bishop Schmitt Field Stadium Improvement Project is officially underway, and fans can follow the progress live as it happens by tuning into the renovation livestream HERE.
