Outdoor Athletic Complex renamed after dedicated supporter Sister Lois Wedl
The Outdoor Athletic Complex has a new name as of Sept. 25. The building was dedicated to avid CSB athletics fan Sister Lois Wedl. She was celebrated with Athletic Director Kelly Dierks-Anderson, President Laurie Hamen and the CSB Dance Team.
At halftime of the shut-out game, Sister Lois Wedl was presented with a unique and special honor. Flanked by CSB’s Athletic Director Kelly Anderson Diercks, as well as transitional president Laurie Hamen, the previously untitled athletic complex was officially named the Sister Lois Wedl Athletic Center.
On Saturday, Sept 25, the CSB soccer team took to the field against Gustavus in an exciting and successful match for the Bennies.
“Both the presence of [our] nationally recognized dance team and the passionate play of our committed soccer players provide an environment that welcomed the moment as few settings could have provided,” Sister Lois said. “…and being escorted by our new Athletic Director Kelly Anderson Diercks and Transitional President Laurie Hamen under an arch of pompoms added to the celebration.”
Sister Lois, a St. Benedict graduate of 1953, has been heavily involved in CSB’s athletic program for decades.
“Sister Lois is one of a kind. Her support of our student athletes, coaches and staff has positively impacted thousands of people during her time as part of the CSB athletics program,” Diercks said.
Sister Lois frequents games and competitions around the CSB campus and live-streams the away games and meets. She even has her very own seat in the Claire Lynch stadium.
“Yes, [I] never miss a Bennie sporting event if at all possible. Being there in person, traveling on the bus with the teams or watching it being streamed,” Sister Lois said.
Even after celebrating her 90th birthday early last spring, and amid a global pandemic, there is no sign of Sister Lois slowing down or limiting her attendance at games.
While Sister Lois is undisputedly CSB’s biggest athletic superfan, her work and support in our program goes above and beyond just attending games.
“After it was announced that I would be the new athletic director here at CSB, Sister Lois sent me a handwritten note in the mail welcoming me to the CSB community,” Diercks said. “I was so incredibly touched by her kindness and welcome that I knew I couldn’t wait to get to know her further. She is every bit
as wonderful in person and I feel truly blessed to know her.”
She has been known to pray for athletes and their families during hard times, and pray over teams before they go to large competitions.
She blessed the groundbreaking at the construction site where the Sister Lois Wedl Athletic Center sits today.
“Buildings are often named after important people to the institution, people who have made a significant impact. Sister Lois most certainly meets that definition,” Diercks said.
“The fact that it is a Sister’s name makes me very happy because we Sisters have done so much for the College of Saint Benedict from the very beginning…I like knowing that people will know how much the Sisters supported our women athletes and saw that athletics is an important aspect of a liberal arts education,” Sister Lois said.
