Madison Alumni Bring Fieldhouse to Life
Hall of Fame Members of the Month
The Journey to Build the Bill Wiitala Senator Fieldhouse at Madison/McDaniel High School: A Story of Grateful Alumni Athletes and Their Friends
For years, a group of Madison alumni gathered at Rose City Golf Course, swapping stories and reliving memories as they stood atop the 14th tee box, overlooking the baseball field where many of them once played.
Those conversations often drifted to the challenges facing Madison athletics and what they could do to make a difference. What started as a casual discussion soon turned into a bold vision: to build a fieldhouse that would transform not just the athletic programs, but the surrounding community as well.
None of them could have predicted the journey ahead. Their initial plan, with a modest budget of $175,000, expanded into a $700,000 undertaking, stretching across four and a half years and weathering obstacles like the Covid pandemic. Yet, through every twist and turn, they remained committed. When Madison High School’s name and the Senators mascot were removed, the alumni rallied to ensure their legacy lived on, eventually securing the name The Bill Wiitala Senator Alumni Fieldhouse — a fitting tribute to their leader and a compromise with the district.
The first steps began in 2019, as Jeff Erdman (’77), Bill Booth (’76), and Jim Sleeman (’76) took the lead in reestablishing the Madison Alumni Association as a nonprofit entity, setting the stage for what would become an all-hands-on-deck effort. Roadblocks appeared early when the district’s name change and the pandemic slowed momentum, but Principal Adam Skyles and Athletic Director Tyler Kelleher stepped in as allies, navigating the process and engaging the community.
Even the family of Leodis McDaniel, for whom the school was renamed, lent their full support, recognizing the deep bond between Principal McDaniel and Coach Wiitala. With district approval granted in 2021, fundraising kicked into high gear, reigniting the passion of alumni and supporters.
Momentum surged in March 2022 with a special naming ceremony at the future fieldhouse site, where Coach Wiitala addressed a crowd of dedicated alumni, students and supporters. The Owens family launched the Impact Coach Program with a $10,000 donation, and the largest fundraiser—a long-awaited auction dinner in May 2022 — raised an incredible $203,000 after two pandemic-related postponements.
Additional events, including golf tournaments, a free- throw contest and year-end grassroots campaigns, bolstered the effort, with Dan Thomas (’75) stepping up to match donations each December.
As the fundraising took off, board members knew they needed the right leader to bring the fieldhouse to life. That’s when several members turned to Matt Leeding (’75), president of Walsh Construction.
Persuading Matt wasn’t easy, but his respect for Coach Wiitala and the Madison coaching legacy ultimately led him to take on the project. With Matt at the helm, confidence soared, and the dream inched closer to reality.
Now, standing proudly on the Madison/McDaniel campus, the Bill Wiitala Senator Alumni Fieldhouse is more than just a building -- it stands as testament to the power of perseverance, unity and the enduring bonds of a shared past.
What began as a simple idea among old teammates overlooking their former field became a unifying mission for an entire community project fueled by gratitude, respect and an unshakable belief in the impact of athletics on young lives.
Through every obstacle, this dedicated group never lost sight of their goal, proving that when passion meets purpose, lasting legacies are built. Now, generations of athletes will train, compete and grow within the walls of a fieldhouse that symbolizes not just their school’s history, but the heart and spirit of those who came before them.
NOTE: The PIL Hall of Fame would like to thank the Madison Alumni for donating excess funds from its Wiitala Fieldhouse campaign to our organization to help fund the development of our new website.