10/2/26

By: FHSU Foundation

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State University welcomed the community during Homecoming weekend to celebrate the official ribbon cutting of the Bickle-Schmidt Athletic Complex, a transformative facility supported by nearly $7.8 million in private donations. Guests explored the building and saw firsthand how the new space is strengthening the future of Tiger Athletics.

During the event, President Tisa Mason thanked the many donors who helped make the athletic complex a reality. In 2023, Governor Kelly awarded FHSU a University Challenge Grant of almost $2.4 million that required substantial commitment from private donors. The university had to raise three dollars in private support for every one grant dollar awarded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Made possible through the generosity of loyal donors, the state-of-the-art facility represents a major investment in the success, health, and well-being of FHSU student-athletes by providing enhanced opportunities for training, conditioning, recovery, and rehabilitation.

“Those ARPA dollars through the University Challenge Grant gave us the runway, and our Tiger community gave us the lift,” said Mason. “That is the real story of this building. Not concrete and steel, but a community that refuses to let its student-athletes settle.”

Two major players in making the athletic complex possible are now namesakes of the building and include the Don and Chris Bickle family and the Bob and Pat Schmidt Foundation. Initial conversations and dreams of what a facility like this could offer FHSU’s student-athletes began about 10 years ago. Today, the transformative facility is elevating the student-athlete experience. More than a football facility, it’s serving all student-athletes across Tiger Athletics by providing modern resources that support peak performance, injury prevention, and long-term wellness.

The 20,000-square-foot facility, located in the south end zone of Lewis Field, includes sports medicine and rehabilitation spaces, strength and conditioning amenities, team meeting rooms, locker facilities, and areas designed to support student-athlete development. The new athletic training room within the athletic complex is on par with many Division I universities, but, most importantly, sets Fort Hays State apart as a leader in sports medicine across the highly competitive MIAA Conference and Division II. The facility has also been a game-changer in supporting the recruitment and retention of future Tigers.

Ender Rider, a sophomore from Overland Park, spoke at the ribbon-cutting event. “As a member of FHSU’s men’s wrestling program and someone who utilizes this facility for training and recovery about five days a week, I want to thank the generous donors whose support made this facility possible. Your investment in student-athletes like me plays a major role in keeping us healthy, helping us recover from injuries, and allowing us to perform at our best both in competition and in the classroom. I am truly grateful for the opportunities and resources you have provided.”

The Bickle-Schmidt Athletic Complex stands as a testament to what can be accomplished when alumni, donors, university leaders, and the state of Kansas invest in the future of FHSU students.

For additional information about the Bickle-Schmidt Athletic Complex, visit foundation.fhsu.edu/athletic-complex.

Rooms throughout the complex and individual football team lockers are still available for naming on a first-come, first-paid basis. Spaces can be named in honor of yourself, a teammate, a friend, a family member, or a business. For more information, visit foundation.fhsu.edu/athletic-complex or contact the FHSU Foundation at foundation@fhsu.edu or 785-628-5620.