Swenson Gym

Swenson Gym

Former names	Wildcat Gym
Address	1356–1372 East 4100 South
Location	Ogden, Utah, U.S.
Coordinates	41°11′27″N111°56′31″W / 41.19083°N 111.94194°W / 41.19083; -111.94194 Coordinates: 41°11′27″N111°56′31″W / 41.19083°N 111.94194°W / 41.19083; -111.94194
Owner	Weber State University
Capacity	1,200 (current) 5,000 (former, approx.)
Construction
Opened	1962;61 years ago (1962)
Renovated	2006

Reed K. Swenson Gym (originally Wildcat Gym) is a 1,200-seat gymnasium in the western United States, on the campus of Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. It is currently the home of Weber State Wildcats women's volleyball team of the Big Sky Conference.

Built 61 years ago in 1962 as Weber State's primary indoor venue, it was succeeded by the new Dee Events Center in autumn 1977. All three teams (men's and women's basketball, volleyball) moved to the Dee, leaving the gym without a varsity tenant. It was renovated in 2006 to accommodate volleyball, with its seating capacity significantly reduced. It is named for Reed Knute Swenson (1903–1989), the head basketball coach at Weber from 1933 to 1957 and longtime athletic director. ^[1]

The gym hosted the inaugural Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournament in 1976; ^{[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]} the host Wildcats lost the title game in double overtime to Boise State, with an attendance of 4,679. ^{[7] [8]}

The final men's basketball game was on February 12, 1977, a twelve-point win over Gonzaga before 4,941; ^[9] the Bulldogs were winless in fifteen annual attempts at Wildcat Gym, ^[10] but did upset Weber State by a point a week later in Spokane to foil their title hopes. ^{[11] [12]} Two weeks later at the conference tournament in Pocatello, the 'Cats returned the favor with a one-point win over the Zags in the semifinals. ^[13]

References

1. "Hall of Fame: Reed K. Swenson". Weber State University Athletics. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
2. "Top four head for tourney". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. March 1, 1976. p. 2B.
3. "Weber hosts Sky playoffs". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). March 1, 1976. p. 16.
4. "Wildcats win tourney 'draw'". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). March 1, 1976. p. B7.
5. Blodgett, Gary R. (March 6, 1976). "Big Sky feud: Weber-Boise State". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. 6A.
6. "Weber, Boise advance in Big Sky". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. March 6, 1976. p. 2B.
7. Blodgett, Gary R. (March 8, 1976). "Boise faces tough Rebels". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. C3.
8. "Boise rules Big Sky after overtime win". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. March 7, 1976. p. 1B.
9. "Big Sky chase still wide open". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). February 14, 1977. p. 13.
10. Benson, Lee (February 14, 1977). "Era ends...maybe". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. B2.
11. "Weber gives away title". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). February 21, 1977. p. B5.
12. English, Sue (February 21, 1977). "Zags savor upset win". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 15.
13. Benson, Lee (March 5, 1977). "Weber, Idaho State battle". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. 6A.

External links

• Weber State University Athletics: Swenson Gym