Aquatic Center
Health and Wellness Center
SINCE ITS EARLIEST DAYS, Mercersburg has enjoyed a tradition of excellence in swimming. Two dozen Olympians— including four gold medalists—and multiple national prep school and interscholastic championships attest to a swimming program that has enjoyed decades of success. Flanagan Pool has served Mercersburg well for the past 50 years but has aged beyond its usefulness. As Mercersburg looks to build on a remarkable athletic heritage, the need for a new aquatic center comes into view. “Prior to attending Mercersburg, I had never thought about my ultimate potential. Mercersburg was a ‘meta moment’ where I took stock and really thought about my path. And that has made all the difference in my life.” – Betsy Mitchell ’83, Olympic gold medal swimmer
Coach “King John” Miller with members of his 1936 team
Mercersburg is committed to investing in student facilities that are program-driven, and an aquatic center anchored by a 50-meter pool has been designed to benefit every student, support our swim teams, and enhance our physical fitness program. The Olympic-size pool will be built directly east of Nolde Gym and feature 10 lanes and a diving well. This new aquatic center will emerge as a signature facility in the mid-Atlantic region and reassert our commitment to swimming in a way that sets Mercersburg apart from its peer schools. “This new pool will provide current Mercersburg swimmers and divers with a much-needed means to pursue competition at the national and international level and generate interest among elite recruits. The new aquatic center will serve multiple sports, create new learning experiences, and expand recreation opportunities for the entire Mercersburg Academy community.” – Kim Lloyd ’90, Big Ten medley relay champion
Aquatic Center at a Glance • 10-lane pool, 50 meters by 25 yards • Diving well • Two bulkheads allowing for three activity spaces • Seating for approximately 500 spectators • Home and visitor locker rooms Programming Opportunities • Advanced therapy, physical rehabilitation, and resistance and strength training • Diving for novice and experienced students • Kayaking, canoeing, and emergency rescue and lifeguard training • Hosting of USA Swimming and Diving events, Eastern Interscholastic Swimming and Diving Championships, and Mid-Penn Championships
With an aquatic center capable of accommodating national-level year-round training and competition, Mercersburg will attract talented swimmers who contribute to the school as athletes, as teammates, as learners, and as leaders. This new center will honor swimming as a cornerstone of our athletic history, build on recent successes, focus on the future of our swimming and aquatic program, and provide an unmatched resource for every Mercersburg student. “Having a new facility will give Mercersburg increased training space and allow for multiple activities such as swimming, diving, and rehab simultaneously. The new aquatic center demonstrates our long-term commitment to a successful swimming program. It will help attract high-level studentathletes and allow us to host meets that will have a positive impact on swimming in the mid-Atlantic region.� – Glenn Neufeld, director of aquatics and head swim coach
AN ESSENTIAL PART of residential boarding school life is immediate access to medical and counseling services. To that end, Mercersburg’s health center is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, when school is in session. The health center receives an average of 3,300 visits every year, including several hundred overnight stays. To ensure the very best experience for our students, the center is the focus of a major renovation that will completely transform the historic 100-year-old building. “Having our phenomenal health center and counseling staffs available to take care of students and their needs 24/7 allows peace of mind for the parents many miles away when their child is not feeling well. The health center gives students a place of comfort and care away from the daily routine to recover and recuperate from an illness, injury, or emotional difficulty.” – Debbie Rutherford, associate head of school
When completed, the health and wellness center will offer greater privacy for students and greater efficiencies for the nursing staff and counseling teams. The floor plan retains boys’ and girls’ wards and includes a reception area, waiting room, exam rooms, private rooms, kitchen, work area, resource room, and counselor offices. The main entrance to the center will be flipped, facing south— away from McFarland Road—for easier pedestrian access, and new electrical, plumbing, heating, and cooling systems will be installed. With these changes, the building will be remade into a modernized health and wellness center that serves our students and a variety of healthcare needs.
For more information about how you can support the aquatic center or health and wellness center, please contact the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations at 717-328-6100 or giving@mercersburg.edu.
Mercersburg Academy 300 East Seminary Street Mercersburg, PA 17236