Discover the Difference: Saint Albert Partners with Iowa Western for John and Harriet Wiebe Football and Soccer Complex

by Diocese of Des Moines Catholic Schools | July 16, 2024

Saint Albert Catholic is thrilled to announce a multi-year partnership with Iowa Western Community College to utilize the John and Harriet Wiebe Football and Soccer Complex. Construction of the facility began in April and is expected to be completed by late fall.

The John and Harriet Wiebe Football and Soccer Complex will become the new home for Saint Albert Catholic's football and soccer programs. Located just one mile from the Saint Albert campus, the Iowa Western complex will feature a premier artificial turf field, a massive video scoreboard, LED competition lighting, ample fan seating, a flat entrance from the parking lot into the stadium, and many other top-tier amenities.

"This collaboration opens up exciting opportunities for our student-athletes," said Pat Ryan, Saint Albert's Chief Administrative Officer. "The John and Harriet Wiebe Football and Soccer Complex will not only provide a safe and accessible environment but also a state-of-the-art facility that will elevate the quality of our competitions, benefiting both our athletes and fans."

For years, Saint Albert's track and field programs have produced district and state championship teams and individuals, despite having to practice in the school's parking lot, on city sidewalks, and in other school facilities. This new partnership will provide track and field athletes access to the Iowa Western track and field facilities when available, alleviating safety concerns for our student-athletes. Additionally, the new fields will consolidate locations for Saint Albert's soccer teams, which currently play home games at the Council Bluffs Recreation Fields and practice at the Iowa West Sports Plex.

"The reduction in travel for practices and games is a major win for our school and student-athletes," said Saintes Head Soccer Coach Chris Hughes. "It's exciting to share a world-class regulation-sized soccer field with the defending national champion Iowa Western Women's Soccer team."

For future high school athletes, the partnership will effectively double the school's current practice space, meeting a critical need for Saint Albert's youth programs by enabling more practices and games to be held on campus.

The evaluation of the practice and game field conditions at Saint Albert began in October with the formation of the Al Leber Field Committee. After seven months of evaluating, planning, and working with top-tier field turf companies, the school received proposals estimating $2.5 million to renovate the Al Leber playing surface and upgrade the stadium.

"We felt, with the growth of our school, that there were other projects on campus that needed to be addressed before the field and stadium," said Ryan. "This monumental partnership with Iowa Western will significantly benefit our students and supporters and will allow us to continue to invest in our school facilities to accommodate our increasing enrollment and students' growing needs."

Serving the greater Council Bluffs community for over 50 years, St. Albert Catholic is the only school in southwest Iowa to offer a quality Catholic education for students from six weeks to high school graduation. Building on the foundation of Catholic values, St. Albert Catholic inspires students to fulfill their spiritual, academic, moral, and physical potential by following the teachings of the Catholic Church. To learn more, visit saintalbertschools.org or email info@saintalbertschools.org.