Tomasa Perez is an ASU Walter Cronite School of Journalism student assigned to cover St. Mary's High School for AZPreps365.com.

Filled with memories from past years, the gym has finally started its new chapter for Saint Mary's Catholic High School.

The connection to the past remains, honoring the legacy of those who built it.

“In its initial construction, there was no air conditioning,” Athletic Director Jose Lucero said, “So the first and most important thing was that we installed air conditioning in the gym, which has just been a blessing.”

With new air conditioning, an expanded weight room, redesigned locker rooms, a brand new dance studio, team meeting space, and a cardio fitness center, it shows a commitment to wellness, school spirit, and community.

These new updates will help the school offer programs like dance classes and expand opportunities to participate in sports and fitness activities.

This renovation would not have been possible without input from coaches, staff, and students, who made sure the changes reflected the community’s needs for safety and success.

“Our faculty, coaches, and teachers have been incredibly flexible,” Principal Tanya Bartlett said. “They’ve given us feedback on alternative spaces and how we could make the best use of our current facilities. It’s been a team effort all the way through.”

Coaches like Greg Fahrendorf were especially instrumental in updating key areas like the weight room, offering input on layout, equipment, and what works best for students.

That collaboration helped turn vision into reality. It made the facility feel like it truly belongs to everyone.

With the improvements, the gym became a point of pride, drawing in many alumni eager to see the transformation.

“I gave a lot of little tours to recent alumni to show them all the things that had gone up,” Lucero shared.

Principal Tanya Bartlett echoed that sense of connection: “When we had Coach Don Durkee retire, everyone came back to the gym. 

That emotional pull was clear during the Final Bash before the new floor went in. “It's kind of a disbelief when people walk in and they see how different it is and how much bigger it is,” Coach Greg Fahrendorf said. “I practically have to kick people out.”

When the new gym took shape, it wasn’t just a construction project—it was a patchwork of local history. 

“The whole building itself is a recycled building,” said Gym Manager Frank Alcocer. As other schools shut down or suffered damage, St. Mary's saw an opportunity. “There was another gym at Gerard High School. We were able to take the infrastructure, the ceiling, from them, and move it over here.”

Even the gym floor came with a backstory. Originally blue and orange, it once belonged to Camelback High School before a flood left it unusable. “They pulled everything out, dried it out, then reinstalled it into our gym,” Alcocer said. That same floor has served athletes for 31 years, but time is catching up.

Alcocer added,  “You can only resurface so far because you're taking that top layer down lower and lower. This past year, I noticed... kids were sliding. So it’s time for that new floor.”

Every corner of the gym holds a story, even the scoreboards, which were recovered from a Paradise Valley School District gym after a fire.

 “The insurance company said, ‘Get rid of the scoreboards.’ We brought those two scoreboards over and put them on our walls,” Alcocer explained. 

The bleachers were rescued from East High School before it was demolished in the early ’80s. 

For many years, the gym has always held a special place in the school’s athletic life, but as time went by, it became clear it no longer met the needs of students, athletes, and the broader community. 

Outdated equipment, a lack of control, and limited space caused many difficulties in supporting such standards of safety for high school athletics and student wellness.

Reflecting on the facilities when she first arrived at St. Mary’s, Principal Bartlett said, “When I first got here and I saw the state of those locker rooms, I was kind of sad. There were broken benches, things hanging from the ceiling — it was rough. It made me sad because our students, who work so hard, were working with facilities like that."

This project is more than just a physical upgrade, it sends a message of support for student success.

“Hopefully it motivates our athletes to work hard and sets them up for success,” said athletic trainer Gerard Moots.

The motivation and the resources behind it can be traced back nearly six years ago, when Fahrendorf and Mr. Watt first began asking questions about available grants. 

Their curiosity and initiative set the wheels in motion, laying the groundwork for what would become a game-changing investment in the school’s athletic development.

“The benefactor we have, Shea Homes, has been working with the Diocese of Phoenix,” said Bartlett. “They had done an air conditioning project for Seton High School, and once that ended, they said, ‘We’ll take on a gym project.’”

Shea Homes provided 80% of the funds, and the gym serves as a welcoming centerpiece for the Knights' future, especially with new ideas such as holding graduations, tournaments, and events to bring alumni and families back together.

The gym is not only a place for athletic achievement but a central part of the school’s culture. 

It’s helping build stronger bonds between students, staff, and alumni.

But perhaps the most powerful impact of the renovation is felt in the voices of those who walk the halls, coach on the courts, and cheer from the bleachers. 

As the gym enters a new era, it continues to carry the traditions that have shaped generations of Knights. 

For alumni, students, and community members alike, the upgraded space isn’t a break from the past — it’s a tribute to it. 

“Tradition is a very large part of St. Mary’s, but it is not our job for tradition to carry us; it is our job to carry the traditions,” Alcocer said. “When people discuss tradition, I tell them it was not until the late 1960s when gold was introduced to the playoffs.  My mother attended SM in the 50s.  She knew nothing of gold.  Also, in my time at SM, because of society, some traditions have gone away.” 

Principal Bartlett echoed the gym’s role as a community anchor. “And when we have events, we want people to come and enjoy it,” she said. “And especially if they're alumni, no matter how far back, come back and see, we want you to be a part of this.”

Their stories reflect a deep sense of pride, connection, and the belief that the legacy of Saint Mary’s is only growing stronger.

With the renovations, the gym remains the center of these gatherings, connecting current students with the ‘Old SM.’

 “We’re all part of the same Saint Mary’s community,” Bartlett explained.

 “Once a Knight, Always. And that’s huge.”