Texas Wesleyan athletes don’t have to carry their gear across campus anymore

Texas Wesleyan restarted its football team in 2016 and made the playoffs for the first time eight years later. Now, after a second straight postseason appearance, the university is showcasing its commitment to not only football but athletics and the Rams community at large.

The Moritz Fieldhouse opened in November, providing a home base for Texas Wesleyan athletes, many of whom previously had to carry their gear across campus to get to practice. The building is the latest step in an athletics construction project that included the installation of a football field in 2024.

A full-fledged football stadium could be ready as soon as next season, after the installation of seats, concession stands and locker rooms around the field. The Rams played home games this past season at Crowley ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium.

Besides football, the field house will host the new flag football team, soccer and track and field. The facility has a locker room, showers, training room, industrial-sized washer and dryer, coaches offices and a kitchen.

Linebacker Zeno Marcheselli, who has played for the Rams since 2020, described the drastic changes he has seen since he arrived on campus and how the field house will help athletes.

“[This facility] makes the biggest difference just out of scheduling your day, having more time for doing homework, having more time for social activities, having more time for practice. It’s just a big plus all around, and I can’t be more grateful for it,” he said.

“I’ve been here since 2020. We didn’t even have a field. We didn’t have a field house. We had to drive 15 minutes away just to have practice. And just seeing how our staff, our school, is just invested into the program, it really warms my heart.”

University President Dr. Emily W. Messer said now was the time for this commitment and described how it could have an impact beyond campus on the east side of Fort Worth, including hosting Fort Worth ISD football games.

“It’s twofold,” she said. “Obviously, supporting our student-athletes. … The other part of that is really Texas Wesleyan’s investment in our community and our space and place here on the east side of Fort Worth. And so if you really think about it, there’s not a venue like this on anywhere in the east side of Fort Worth.

“So the opportunity for us to build the stadium, the field house, is really providing an opportunity for our community. We’ve been in conversations with Fort Worth ISD that they may be playing some of their high school games here. We’ve had many different individuals from across the city ask about utilizing the space.”

Fort Worth ISD confirmed conversations have taken place regarding future stadium use, although nothing is finalized.

Moritz Fieldhouse cost $6.5 million, funded by alumni donations and support from people like John David Moritz, president of Moritz Dealerships, who never attended the school.

Messer said it was important that the Rams got this type of buy-in from alumni and the community.

“This facility would not be possible if it wasn’t for John David Moritz with Moritz Dealerships,” she said. “So his passion for serving our students — he’s not an alum. He really had no ties to the university, but he understands our mission and wants to support that, and so thank you to him. Thank you for all the donors that contributed and will contribute, because we’re still fundraising, but it wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for them.

“An institution of our size doesn’t have the resources to just make these things happen if it wasn’t for the support of our donors and our alumni. So truly, it’s because of them that our student-athletes like Zeno get to have this facility.”

John David Moritz said in a statement:

“At Moritz, we believe in investing in futures both on the field and in the classroom. The field house affirms our commitment to the students, athletes, and staff of Texas Wesleyan. We’re proud to stand alongside the University as it continues to build a legacy of excellence, teamwork and community empowerment.”

The improvements to athletic facilities have come as the Texas Wesleyan football team has started to find success. Head coach Brad Sherrod said the facilities can help push the Rams to becoming one of the premier NAIA programs.

“When you look at teams that are in our league, not too many of them can say they have a dedicated field house for their program, and also have an on-campus stadium, which I’m hoping we have here soon,” he said. “We’re building the infrastructure here to be something special here at Texas Wesleyan, and so this will help us continue to keep getting kids from the Fort Worth area. They’re really good football players. We want them to stay home.”

Star-Telegram reporter Charles Baggarly contributed to this story.