Mercersburg

Originally the main exercise room of the 1912 gym, the McDowell Fitness Center measures 100 feet x 60 feet, with an indoor track suspended over the lower level. This aerobic and strength training facility includes 1,500 square feet dedicated to free weights and 2,500 square feet housing York "pin select" weight training machines, stair steppers, treadmills, elliptical machines, stationary bikes, recovery stations and equipment. Today's fitness center has lived previous lives as the Academy's main indoor sports arena, a venue for Stony Batter theatrical productions, and the wrestling room. The state-of-the-art renovations were completed in 1997 thanks to a generous naming gift from Jack ’56 and Susan McDowell.

The center of athletics is Nolde Gymnasium, A fitness center and a wrestling/all-purpose room were added to the gymnasium in 1998. The gymnasium also houses a nine-lane swimming pool, three basketball courts, the new Davenport Squash Center, a practice indoor track, and locker rooms. In addition, the training room in Nolde provides facilities for two full-time athletic trainers.

Our swimming complex contains a nine-lane, 25-yard pool; with an average depth of 5 feet. This fast facility, which has been the site of state and regional championship meets, is equipped with a Colorado Timing system complete with a printout board for spectator convenience. We have an underwater filming room and video system, swim benches, a Vasa Trainer, and a Power Rack for in-water training.

The 3,600 square foot, temperature-controlled wrestling center serves as a practice facility for the Blue Storm team. It includes two regulation-size Resilite mats, modern equipment for workouts and practices and the wrestling office. The Storm competes in the Plantz Courts just down the hall from the Kuhn Wrestling Room. The Kuhn Wrestling Room was named in honor of former teacher and wrestling coach, Fred Kuhn (1931-1967), through a leadership gift from an anonymous wrestler and contributions from a number of other alumni who respected and admired Mr. Kuhn.

The Plantz Courts include three full-size basketball courts and serve as home to indoor sports including basketball, volleyball, and wrestling. The courts were given by friends, colleagues, and students, to commemorate Leonard A. Plantz "whose gentle manner and distinguished service epitomized Mercersburg's commitment to ‘Hard Work, Clean Life, and Fair Play’ and served as an outstanding example to his students, his players, and his colleagues of the faculty.”

The Mercersburg Academy Ski Team (MAST) is fortunate to have access to the Whitetail Ski Resort, just 6 miles away. This close proximity enables the team to get to the mountain multiple times a week to practice. The mountain boasts a 935 foot vertical drop with a top elevation of 1,800 feet, 19 trails, 8 lifts with an uphill capacity of 11,200 skiers per hour and 100% snow-making. Mercersburg’s recreational ski club also has access to the mountain four times a week.

The golf team's home course is Whitetail Golf Resort which opened in the spring of 2001. Because it is only 8 miles from school, the team can practice every afternoon from 4:00 - 6:00. During the off season, team members not playing other sports can practice (at their own expense) 2-3 times a week. With large, undulating greens, this challenging course is a combination of links style and tree-lined, with mountainside holes that require as much mental as physical skill. At almost 7000 yards from the tees, the need for carefully placed tee shots often requires a second shot of significant difficulty. Whitetail challenges every aspect of the game.

The new Davenport Squash Center houses 10 top-of-the line ASB courts and viewing areas. The numerous courts accommodate the growing student interest in the sport at Mercersburg and provide seasoned squash players with a facility that is second to none. The center lends itself to significant interscholastic tournaments, drawing good, young players and spectators to campus, underscoring the school's belief in the importance of lifetime sports, and giving Mercersburg players access to truly exceptional facilities and resources.

In 1993, North America joined the international squash community by switching to the “soft ball” and to the new squash court dimensions this required. Nearly all colleges and most preparatory schools have reconfigured their courts to comply with the new standard. The new Davenport Squash center opened at Mercersburg in December 2004, thanks to a very generous lead gift of $1 million from Pete and Sylvia Davenport of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, and the Davenport Family Foundation.

The Smoyer Tennis Center complex includes 14 all-weather courts and naturally elevated viewing areas. At the heart of the center is the David O. Frantz ’60 Tennis Pavilion, which houses dressing rooms, the Storm team room and the tennis office.

The Smoyer Tennis Center is the gift of Stanley C. Smoyer ’30 in honor of his late brother, Winston R. Smoyer ’28, whose love for Mercersburg “knew no bounds.”

The all-weather, Regupol rubberized six-lane outdoor track includes two horizontal jump pits, a pole vault area, and a high jump platform. The discus and shot put cages are located in the infield and just outside the track, respectively. Javelin is contested on a nearby field. In the fall, the Storm’s football team competes on the infield.

The Curran Track is named after legendary Mercersburg track coach Jimmy Curran (1910-1961) and is, according to the plaque that bears his name, “a gift from his friends.” Among his many accomplishments as a coach, Curran produced multiple world record holders and Olympians.

With over 300 acres of property, the Academy has plenty of space for playing fields and other outdoor facilities. The athletic department maintains 10 grass fields for soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and baseball.

The varsity baseball field, adjacent to the gymnasium, was completely refurbished for the 2005 season, including  new dugouts, backstops and warm-up areas. The field is named for Bruce Eckert ’62, a member of the Board of Regents and long time supporter of the Academy baseball team.

Steiger Field is home to the men’s varsity soccer team and named in honor of Thomas B. Steiger, class of 1935 and Mercersburg’s varsity soccer coach from 1948 to 1975.

Athletic trainer Marilyn Houck and her assistant, are present at every home game; the assistant travels with the football team to all away games as well. When not at a game, they can usually be found in the fully equipped training room in the Nolde gymnasium working with athletes. They describe their job as “the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of athletic injuries."

The trainers supervise physical therapy, coordinate care with prescribing doctors and work with coaches. They insure that a student only resumes a sport after he or she is fully recovered. Athletic trainers also help design therapy programs for students with ongoing conditions.

The training room includes whirlpool baths, therapy tables, and a variety of other equipment for rehabilitative exercise.

Mercersburg’s new synthetic-turf playing field opened in Fall 2009 for use by the school’s field hockey, girls’ lacrosse, and boys’ and girls’ soccer teams. These teams now have a state-of-the-art training and competitive surface at a similar level of quality to what Mercersburg athletes will find at the next level of competition.

The field’s official name, Regents’ Field, commemorates the school’s volunteer leaders—most importantly, the women and men of the Mercersburg Board of Regents who served at the turn of the 21st century, as requested by the donor.