Fairfield Prep students still present in Rec Plex

Despite the recent addition of the Fr. Brisette Athletic Center to Fairfield Preparatory, Prep students and teams continue to use the Rec Plex facilities.

“The new Fr. Brissette Athletic Center was built by Prep to provide our students with more adequate locker room facilities, and to give Prep a practice gym that could be used largely for much needed intramural purposes,” said Fairfield Preparatory Athletic Director Robert Harris.

The new athletic center does not provide appropriate seating for spectators, so its uses are limited to prep intramurals and practices. However, even with the added practice space, Fairfield Prep utilizes university courts time for freshman basketball and wrestling from December through February.

For the first three weeks of December, Prep uses two courts from 3 p.m.. to 5 p.m., daily, as well as three times a week through February.

“The construction of the BAC sought to supplement, not replace, the continued use of both Alumni Hall and the Recreation Complex,” said Harris.

However, it is not just the Rec Plex courts that are being used by the Prep students. According to Fairfield’s website, Fairfield Prep students have access to the university’s gym facilities included in their tuition.

“The Prep has limited use of the building from opening through 6:00 p.m.

They can use the gym, racquetball courts and the pool,” said Phil Palumbo, director of the Rec Plex and aquatics. “They cannot use the weight room in Alumni Hall, which is one of the reasons we ask for ID’s in the room. They also cannot [use] any of the cardio equipment or the Nautilus room. 

Both Harris and Palumbo agree that the construction of the new athletic center did solve some scheduling conflicts.

“On conflict days in Alumni Hall or the Rec Plex, we now have an alternate option,” said Harris. “The addition of the BAC provides more flexibility in programming.”

“There are rarely any scheduling conflicts in the Rec Plex since the

opening of the new Prep Athletic Center,” said Palumbo. “Prep intramurals are now run in that gym. Most other conflicts occur with the use of the athletic fields.”