McLean County Times

Illinois Wesleyan University's Inspiration Field at Carol Willis Park has been named the 2025 Netting Professionals National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III Field of the Year. The announcement was made by the NFCA on Friday, October 17.

The award honors fields and stadiums across various levels, including NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Cal JC, NWAC, and high schools for their maintenance standards and quality playing surfaces.

"We are so honored to have Inspiration Field at Carol Willis Park receive this award," said head softball coach Tiffany Prager. "Our program is made up of incredible alumni, supporters, and administrators who are dedicated to enhancing the student-athlete experience - all of whom have played a massive role in the transformation of our home facility into what it is today. We are blessed to call Inspiration Field at Carol Willis Park our home field and continue to be grateful for how it continues to inspire our youth softball community."

Inspiration Field serves as the home venue for Titan softball and will host the 2025 NCAA Division III National Championship. Since opening in April 2000 as a lighted field, it has hosted numerous NCAA regionals and super regionals along with College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin tournaments. The field also regularly hosts Illinois High School Association games as well as youth competitions.

Since 2019, upgrades have included transitioning from a dirt surface to a turf infield. In spring 2021, following the addition of a new hitting facility for the Titans, it was renamed Inspiration Field at Carol Willis Park. Further improvements include a scoreboard with videoboard in left field, a new pressbox, state-of-the-art wall padding on the outfield fence showcasing IWU softball's achievements ahead of hosting nationals, updated dugouts, chairback seating behind home plate, and a picnic pavilion.

"This award is an incredible honor that would not be possible without the support of alum and women's athletics benefactor, Carol Willis, and many others who played pivotal roles in the transformation of our facility," said Illinois Wesleyan Director of Athletics Mike Wagner. "Our alumni, friends, and families took a vision and made it a reality ahead of us hosting the 2025 NCAA Division III softball national championship. The field has been a tremendous blessing for our Titan softball program but it has also provided the Bloomington-Normal community and surrounding area with a top-tier softball facility."

Other recipients this year include McWhorter Stadium (Clemson University), Bowden Field (Augustana University), Warrior Field at Warrior Park (Indiana Institute of Technology), The Plex (Northeast Mississippi Community College), Falcon Stadium (Folsom Lake College), Clark College Softball Complex (Clark College), and Warrior Field (Calvary Christian High School).

Award winners were nominated by NFCA member coaches before being selected by peers on the NFCA Awards Committee. Honorees will be recognized during an awards brunch at the NFCA Convention on December 13 in Las Vegas.