Celebrating Ten Years of Community Through the Joseph L. Alioto Recreation Center

Three thousand, six hundred and fifty days—give or take a few—is how long the Joseph L. Alioto Recreation Center has been in operation at Saint Mary’s. Keeping our Gaels healthy and fit for a decade, the recreation center is much more than a gym. Naturally, as part of the College, it’s a place to learn something new—from fitness techniques to yoga classes to pickleball. The facility offers an NCAA-certified swimming pool and hydro-spa, a state-of-the-art climbing wall with new and challenging routes updated throughout the year, and three indoor courts with basketball, indoor soccer, and volleyball amenities. More than that, the center fosters a sense of community—for our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and more.

And when we say more, that includes more than 1 million visitors since opening day: stretching, climbing, running, lifting, pedaling, rowing, swimming, training, chilling, lounging, keeping fit, and feeling rejuvenated.  

That’s something to celebrate. Which we’ll be doing: toasting 10 years of the center on March 6 from 3 to 6 p.m. All Saint Mary’s students are invited to take part. Blend a smoothie by riding a bike. Make spin art by pedaling. And design your own SMC beach towel—ideal for hours in the fabulous outdoor swimming pool under the California sun. With a decade to celebrate, we also wanted to share what the center has meant to Gaels across the years—and share a few of the numbers that give a sense of the impact of this special place.

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Practice, Experience, and Friendship

Designed to support both physical fitness and mental well-being, the facility offers spaces for individual workouts, team sports, and social interaction. For Madison Umidon ’18, “It’s where I made some of my life-long friends, had practice as a student-athlete, won intramural championships, gained great work experience all while making so many of my favorite college memories,” she says. Umidon’s experience is expressed by many students who have walked through the front doors, many who are seeking out regularly scheduled activities like fitness classes or intramural sports. 

“It's where I made some of my life-long friends, had practice as a student athlete, won intramural championships, gained great work experience all while making so many of my favorite college memories.” 

—Madison Umidon ’18

Annually, there are over 1,100 participants in fitness classes—and more than 1,100 participants in special events that take place at the facility: from the First Year Olympics to the Weekend of Welcome (WOW) Pool Party to LoveWell, a day of self-care and celebration through strength, sweat, and community. On average, 85% of the student population uses the facility. Over 95% of first-year students visit the recreation center. When it comes to using the center more than three times a week, seniors  take the lead. 

For students who live in residence halls, the facility's proximity is an added convenience to their on-campus living experience, with this amenity right at their doorstep. Students who live close to or near campus often use the facility to rest, eat, recreate, and work out in between classes and social engagements. 

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It’s no surprise that the bright and vibrant facility is a highlight of campus tours for prospective students. Annually, over 6,000 prospective students pay a visit. The center is also a place where student groups, teams, and organizations can reserve space. Each year brings some 1,120 reservation requests serving over 33,000 users. 

Want to be there when things are hopping? The most popular day to use the facility is Wednesday. And the highest attendance in the facility occurs 2–7 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Meeting Outside the Classroom and the Office

It’s not only students who use the center. Faculty, staff, alumni, spouses, dependents, and other campus partners make use of the pool, cardio equipment, pickup basketball, and more. SMC employees are given a membership to the facility and can enjoy the amenities while employed at the college. 

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Peter Alter, an avid user and professor of Special Education at Saint Mary’s, enjoys the different spin that the center puts on human connections on campus. “The Joseph L. Alioto Recreation Center is a shared space where Brothers, faculty, students, and staff can come together, interact, and connect in a way that’s different from the usual classroom or office setting,” he says. “It’s a place where relationships can form naturally, and you see each other in a whole new context. The variety of activities it offers makes it unique—you can enjoy a friendly game of pick-up basketball with friends, or, if you prefer solitude, you can pop in your AirPods and lose yourself in your music. It’s a versatile environment that allows for both community and personal time. What really stands out to me is how it embodies excellence—it’s always clean, well-organized, and thoughtfully maintained, which creates an atmosphere of respect and care."

“The Joseph L. Alioto Recreation Center is a shared space where Brothers, faculty, students, and staff can come together, interact, and connect in a way that’s different from the usual classroom or office setting. It’s a place where relationships can form naturally, and you see each other in a whole new context.” 

—Professor Peter Alter

A Home for Club Sports

The Joseph L. Alioto Recreation Center has served as the home base for Club Sports since its opening, with more than 15 different clubs taking to the field, court, and pool. Club Sports Director Jeremy Penaflor and Assistant Director Thomas Perry use the recreation center throughout the year to prepare teams and student-athletes for competitive play both regionally and nationally. 

Many don’t realize it, but one out of five Gaels are Club Sports athletes. Playing sports they love is what draws them. Discipline, commitment, and leadership are some of the skills they nurture. That’s true with teams that just formed in recent years, such as Women’s Club Basketball, launched last year. It’s equally true with a team that has a storied history spanning more than a century, like Saint Mary’s Men’s Rugby—which defeated Navy last spring and is the reigning national champion.

Organization and operations for Club Sports are managed and coordinated out of the recreation center by student team leaders who organize registration, recruitment, equipment needs, and game and practice schedules. Student-athletes can also attend strength training sessions and seek medical guidance and recovery from Amanda Morton, SMC’s Athletic Trainer for Club Sports.

‘First Ever’: Opening Doors…to 1 Million Visitors

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On March 8, 2015, the doors opened to SMC students. As requested by the Class of 2015, students from that graduating class were the first to enter. “First Ever” celebrations were held throughout the center. 

That first autumn, the Gael community competed in a nationwide bike challenge against other colleges in an event known as Fall Frenzy. The event took place over a four-week period, with each participant accumulating bike miles ridden. SMC flew past the competition and completed 10,595 miles to win the final round! 

The competition was also a great way to bring together SMC students, faculty, and staff. Chris Jones, a professor of Mathematics & Computer Science, was one of the faculty who took part. “I just wanted to thank you (and probably other folks) for all your hard work in making the Fall Frenzy a success,” he wrote afterward. “It isn't just that we won, but a lot of people from all across campus (including myself) had a great time competing for the college.”

In 2017, the Joseph L. Alioto Recreation Center was recognized by Campus Rec Magazine for its open and spacious design, which includes 14 square feet per student—compared to other university rec centers that average two to three square feet per student. In 2023, the facility enhanced the Club Sports athlete experience by renovating the cafe into a Sports Medicine facility. This space serves over 375 club sports athletes with an average of 800 appointments for injury care and recovery. 

With more than 1 million visitors to date, the recreation center has achieved its vision—and much more. It has provided community among students, staff, and faculty. It has helped keep our Gael students and others healthy and fit. 

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Building Skills Through Student Employment Opportunities

The center also provides on-campus work opportunities for students—which allows Gaels to earn financial support and gain work experience. Led by Mariel Littorno, Assistant Director of Campus Recreation Programs & Operations, and Lori Umidon, Membership Services and Facility Operations Manager, student employees develop skills to take into their careers and network with professionals. 

Balancing academic and work schedules introduces students to time management and communication skills while providing a valuable experience. Student employees are also able to build confidence with learned soft skills such as problem-solving and customer service, while building their resume at the same time. Over the past decade, more than 800 student staff members have been employed at the recreation center.

A Personal Note: Cheers to Ten Years!

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Speaking personally, being a part of this community over the years has grounded my passion and dedication to serving SMC. The feeling of “new” still lives in the building, and the lives enhanced by the facility programs and services energize the work done. The countless hours to ensure cleanliness cannot go unacknowledged—it’s one of the ways the shared dedication and commitment from all our employees is demonstrated every day. 

Walking through the facility brings a smile to my face. When I see colleagues enjoying the space and taking time to care for their physical and mental wellness, it reminds me to do the same. My eyes get a bit brighter with joy when our SMC community shares how much lap swimming in the pool is the most enjoyable part of their day. My heart is filled when I see the gymnasium spaces filled with intramural basketball while friends watch in support; when drop-in pickleball participants giggle as they’re learning a new activity; and during the hard work of volleyball practice, where our club sports athletes prepare for an upcoming tournament. I enjoy seeing the Dance classes prepare for their performances—and seeing coaches from SMC’s Division I sports proudly touring the facility to their prospective student-athletes. 

As we embark on the next decade of the Joseph L. Alioto Recreation Center, I hope you’ll join in celebrating how the facility has elevated the student experience at SMC. For me, it’s also fostered a greater pride and passion to serve others. Cheers to ten years!