Dear Friends of Tribe Athletics,
On Friday, Feb. 6, a surprise snowfall blanketed Williamsburg, but to the hundreds of guests, staff, and student-athletes gathered at the Mackesy Sports Performance Center (the Mack); it was like a perfect day in the sunshine!
That evening, it was my honor to represent Athletics as we officially dedicated the Mack, a space that elevates the daily experience of all our student-athletes thanks to new strength training, sports medicine, mental performance, academic, and practice spaces, as well as several new locker rooms.
I am incredibly grateful for the efforts of so many who have helped make this dream a reality for W&M Athletics. Loyal members of the Tribe like Katie '95 and Todd Boehly '96 provided tremendous leadership; as well as our staunch advocate Jane Kaplan '56; our great longtime friend Sue Gerdelman '76, and of course Jen '91 and Scott Mackesy '91, whose name is now synonymous with a new standard of excellence at W&M. There are many more who have made gifts in support of the project and their names have been etched into the beams across the ceiling, emphasizing the sense of community that is so important to our program.
Scott and Jen Mackesy enter the dedication event alongside President Katherine A. Rowe
Every corner of the new facility has been designed with our student-athletes in mind. The Gordinier Strength Training Center features expanded weight-room capacity and direct access to the adjacent practice court—enhancing efficiency for sports such as basketball and volleyball. The Gerdelman Family Court supports simultaneous practices, while twelve updated locker rooms serve our varsity programs.
Enhancements extend to sport‑specific and holistic performance areas, including a flexible viewing hall for events and film sessions, a fully equipped sports medicine clinic with expanded treatment capacity, and the new Connelly Mental Health & Performance Suite offering private counseling and mental skills training. As the new spaces reach into Kaplan Arena, the facility also introduces a new academic lounge designed to foster collaboration among student-athletes and houses offices for academic support and student‑athlete development staff. Additional upgrades include the recent renovations in the Hays T. Watkins Strength Training Center, a dynamic space available to all student-athletes.
With roughly 36,000 square feet of new construction completed in 18 months, the facility represents a comprehensive investment in the incredible young people who proudly wear the Green & Gold, and the coaches and staff who work tirelessly on their behalf.
While we stood in that awesome new space and marveled at how beautiful it is, I think all of us also realized how much more it is than bricks and mortar. The Mack sets a new standard for Tribe Athletics. It's about providing our student athletes with the support they need to grow, thrive and win!
We also need to shout out to our campus partners for their indispensable help during the construction phase, and to our biggest supporter, President Rowe, who understands the value of Athletics and supports us at every turn.
Since we were handed the keys to the Mack and officially opened the doors, it has been a treat to watch our student-athletes as they explore their new home. Chase Lowe, a senior guard on the Men's Basketball team, and Mia Tegeris, pictured below, a goalkeeper for Women's Soccer, spoke at the dedication and were united in their belief that the facility is transformative for Athletics.
We've done a series of videos that help capture their excitement and if you are ready for a big boost of Tribe Pride, please take a look.
The Mack represents a huge milestone for W&M Athletics. Within the current national landscape, few programs are building anything comparable right now, and this grand facility underscores that we are second to none! Thank you again to everyone who has a part in this history-making venue.
Go Tribe!
Brian D. Mann
Director of Athletics
