Dickinson State University Weight Room – Ben C. Frank Human Performance Center
Dickinson State University continues to invest in the success of Blue Hawk student-athletes with the renovation of the Ben C. Frank Human Performance Center. Located in Dickinson, North Dakota, this facility serves as the primary training space for DSU’s athletic programs competing in the North Star Athletic Association. Outfitted with premium strength equipment from Samson Equipment, the weight room provides athletes with the tools necessary to train, compete, and perform at the highest level.
The Human Performance Center is designed to support strength development, athletic performance, and injury prevention across all Blue Hawk teams. With a layout built for efficiency and high-volume training, the facility allows teams to train simultaneously while maximizing floor space and equipment accessibility. Dickinson State athletes now benefit from a strength environment that combines durability, functionality, and versatility — all core design principles of Samson Equipment.
Facility Location
The Ben C. Frank Human Performance Center is located on the Dickinson State University campus at:
Dickinson State University
Ben C. Frank Human Performance Center
291 Campus Drive
Dickinson, ND 58601
This modern athletic performance facility supports Dickinson State’s mission to provide student-athletes with top-tier resources for physical development and competitive success.
Strength Training Designed for Collegiate Athletics
The Dickinson State University weight room is equipped with a comprehensive range of Samson strength equipment designed specifically for collegiate training environments. The layout supports Olympic lifting, power development, and functional training while maintaining the durability needed for daily use by multiple teams.
A key highlight of the facility is the installation of multiple Samson training racks. These racks serve as the foundation of the weight room, providing athletes with dedicated stations for squatting, bench pressing, Olympic lifts, and accessory training.
Flex Rack Functional Training Racks
The facility includes five Flex Rack Functional Training Racks. These versatile racks combine traditional power rack capabilities with integrated cable training, creating a true all-in-one strength station.
The Flex Rack system allows athletes to seamlessly transition between barbell training and cable-based movements, improving training efficiency during team lifts. Integrated cable columns expand the range of exercises available to athletes, allowing for functional movements, accessory work, and rehabilitation exercises without requiring additional equipment.
For strength coaches, this flexibility is invaluable when programming for multiple teams or large groups. Athletes can perform compound movements such as squats and presses while also incorporating cable work like rows, pulls, and stabilization exercises.
Samson Functional Training 1/2 Racks with Lat/Row Columns
In addition to the Flex Rack stations, Dickinson State’s weight room features five Samson Functional Training 1/2 Racks with Lat/Row Cable Columns. These half racks are designed to provide maximum strength training capability while maintaining an open training floor.
The integrated lat pulldown and row cable columns allow athletes to perform upper body pulling movements directly within the rack station. This combination maximizes efficiency during workouts and allows athletes to transition quickly between lifts.
Half rack systems are particularly valuable in collegiate weight rooms where space optimization and athlete flow are essential. By integrating cable stations directly into the rack structure, Dickinson State’s training space provides more functionality without crowding the floor.
High Performance Bench Training Stations
Bench training is a critical component of strength development for athletes across all sports. Dickinson State’s facility includes ten Samson Combo Benches, creating multiple dedicated bench press stations throughout the weight room.
The Samson Combo Bench is engineered for durability, stability, and safety in high-performance environments. Designed specifically for collegiate and professional strength programs, these benches provide athletes with a secure platform for pressing movements while maintaining proper lifting mechanics.
With ten stations available, Dickinson State teams can train efficiently during large group workouts, ensuring that athletes move through lifts quickly while maintaining proper technique and supervision.
Posterior Chain Development
Strengthening the posterior chain is essential for athletic performance, injury prevention, and explosive power development. To support these goals, the Dickinson State weight room includes three Samson Glute Ham Developers.
Glute ham developers are widely recognized as one of the most effective tools for building hamstring and glute strength. Exercises performed on the GHD help improve sprint speed, jumping ability, and overall athletic stability.
The split-pad design provides improved comfort and support during exercises such as glute-ham raises, back extensions, and core stabilization movements. These benches allow strength coaches to incorporate targeted posterior chain work into training programs for athletes across all sports.
Lower Body Strength with Plate-Loaded Belt Squats
The Dickinson State facility also features two Samson Plate-Loaded Belt Squat Machines. Belt squats provide a powerful alternative to traditional barbell squats while reducing spinal loading.
This makes them an ideal training tool for athletes recovering from injuries or for programs looking to increase lower body training volume while minimizing stress on the back.
The plate-loaded design offers smooth resistance and allows athletes to progressively increase strength over time. Belt squats are commonly used to develop quadriceps, glutes, and hip strength while supporting proper movement mechanics.
By incorporating belt squats into the training environment, Dickinson State provides athletes with another safe and effective method to build lower body power.
Built for Team Training
The layout of the Dickinson State University weight room is designed with team training in mind. With multiple rack stations, bench press areas, and specialty equipment, the facility allows entire teams to train together in an organized and efficient manner.
Strength coaches can run structured training sessions while maintaining athlete flow throughout the room. Athletes move seamlessly between rack training, accessory work, and specialized strength exercises without unnecessary downtime.
This efficient layout supports the development of strong team culture while allowing athletes to focus on performance and progression.
Samson Equipment Supporting Blue Hawk Performance
Samson Equipment is proud to support Dickinson State University with high-performance strength equipment built for the demands of collegiate athletics. Every piece of equipment in the Human Performance Center is engineered to withstand intense daily training while delivering the versatility required by modern strength programs.
From functional training racks to belt squat machines and glute ham developers, the Dickinson State University weight room reflects a commitment to athlete development and performance excellence.
The Ben C. Frank Human Performance Center now stands as a premier training environment for Blue Hawk athletes, providing the resources they need to train harder, compete stronger, and dominate the North Star Athletic Association.
