Portsmouth Abbey School - Athletics

The 17,000-square-foot Squash & Fitness Center, dedicated in May 2004, has added tremendously to the quality of life at Portsmouth Abbey School, both for recreational users and for our athletes involved in serious conditioning programs. Our fitness facility is better than what can be found at most prep schools and many Division III colleges.

The Dom Bede Gorman Squash Center was named in memory of Dom Bede, an avid squash player and Abbey athletic director and coach for 25 years. The top-notch facility consists of eight international squash courts and is used for team, club and intramural play as well as for elite area tournaments. Popular summer squash camps, led by world-renowned squash players such as Mark Talbott, are also held at the Squash Center due to its quality.

The 3,000-square-foot Healey & Sheehan Fitness Center includes 60 stations, split among three areas: free weights, weight machines, and a cardiovascular area. All machines are top-of-the-line and are regularly maintained for optimal safety and performance. The Fitness Center is a safe environment for the students, and very user-friendly; all students and new faculty undergo an orientation at the beginning of each year to familiarize them with the equipment.

Many students use the Fitness Center in their leisure time and on weekends, which allows them to spend their time productively, learn more about fitness and staying healthy, and it is a positive social outlet for them. Many faculty and staff also take advantage of the facility during their free time.

Al Brown, director of athletics, noted, "Having access to this equipment and the faculty expertise to supervise conditioning programs has had a tremendous impact on our students' readiness for team sports. There is no question that this facility has improved the health, fitness and well-being of our student-athletes and the entire school community. We tried to design a facility to accommodate everyone," he added, "and are happy with the results."