RecLife Magazine | Fall 2025

MAGAZINE FALL 2025

SCALING

NEW HEIGHTS SEAN MCKEON ’27

Rec Sports DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS

HOWDY, AGS! I am passionate about serving students and enriching the student experience in higher education. My name is Dr. Stephanie Legako, and I currently serve as the Associate Director for Special Projects for Texas A&M Rec Sports. I joined the department in July 2025 with 10 years of experience in higher education. I am excited to learn more about Texas A&M University and serve the student population through the mission and values of Rec Sports.

Another calendar year is coming to a close, along with a truly amazing semester on campus. Texas A&M saw another fall semester of record enrollment, a great football season, and now is an incredible time to join Rec Sports for the exciting improvements that have happened this fall. Most of the dust has settled on our fall construction projects and we are eager to show our patrons why it was worth the wait.

If you have walked into the Student Rec Center lately, you may have noticed our new look. We completed most of the construction in November and will finalize the finishing touches over the winter break.

In addition to a new climbing tower, renovated locker rooms and a new bouldering space, Rec Sports has also welcomed six new full-time staff members and two new graduate assistants. You will meet them (and me!) later in this issue.

While we have some new faces and some new spaces, Rec Sports is still serving our mission to promote activity, wellness, and development to the students and community of Texas A&M University with high-quality experiences and facilities. The core values we uphold in Rec Sports are still at the forefront of how we serve students each day.

Continued facility growth and student support was greatly assisted this year by your generosity. Rec Sports established our first Giving Day in November, raising more than $11,000 for scholarships, endowments and excellence funds to benefit the sport clubs, student employees and Rec Sports facilities – support that positively impacts patrons, students and community members alike.

Building on the success of the inaugural Giving Day, Rec Sports will install a record number of new bricks in the Walk of Champions. This is another fantastic success for our department. Fall 2025 graduates who purchased a brick will be able to leave a lasting mark on the Walk of Champions, much like this university has left on them.

Speaking of leaving a lasting mark, the Fall 2025 alumni reunion was one of our most successful in recent years, drawing one of the largest attendance numbers in recent years. If you’ve previously worked for Rec Sports, mark your calendar for the spring reunion on April 11, 2026, when the Fightin’ Texas Aggie baseball team hosts the Longhorns. We would love for you to join us at this event!

Dr. Stephanie Legako Associate Director – Special Projects Department of Recreational Sports

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In Case You Missed It: A Rec Recap From summer camps to leadership training to RecA-Palooza, this summer turned the Rec into a hub of opportunity and fun.

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A Room Of Their Own Pilates Reformer class gets its own room in the Student Rec Center

and Better 15 Back than Ever

Water Sport Clubs Make Waves

Eight water sports round out the Sport Clubs roster, offering different equipment, styles and competition circuits

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Sean McKeon ’27: Scaling New Heights Junior route setter gains hands-on experience with EP Climbing internship

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Care in Crisis

Rec Sports staff coordinated support following student injury before classes started

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Behind the Scenes of Hosting an Event with Operations & Events From practice courts to banquet halls, Rec Sports hosts thousands of events annually thanks to Operations & Events team

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The Gatekeeper of the Funds: Arranna Bennett ’93

Made in MarComm: Bringing the Brand to Life One in-house team of creatives tells the Rec Sports story across platforms

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The Quietest Party on Campus Adorned with glowsticks and headphones students and staff party at Silent at the Disco

COPYWRITING Claire Frazier Angeline Nappoly

EDITOR Kelly VonDrehle Mariaelena Lozano

PUBLICATION DESIGN

Major Rec Sports renovation reopening brings new climbing tower, expanded bouldering wall and fully refreshed locker rooms

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Abby Simmons

VISUAL MEDIA After nearly 30 years of managing the biggest bang for her buck, Rec Sports’ Director of Business Services is set to retire

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New Staff and Graduate Assistants

Jordan Chaney Shea Stone Kelii Horvath Kazuya Okada Dhruv Ruttala

in 25 Semester Photos

Meets Support 12 Strength with Personal Training Follow Rec Sports on Social Media!

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Year in Numbers With expertise and support, personal trainers help their clients achieve sustainable fitness goals

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Support Rec Sports

RecLIFE magazine is the departmental publication for Texas A&M Rec Sports. Brought to you by the talented Marketing and Development departments, RecLIFE showcases success stories, spotlights dedicated student employees, welcomes new members of the Rec Sports family, and keeps you informed on what’s new with the nation’s best collegiate recreation program.

Visit our website for the most up-to-date information and more Rec Sports highlights!

recsports.tamu.edu

In Case You Missed It: A Rec Recap

IN CASE YOU

MISSED IT: A REC RECAP From summer camps to leadership training to Rec-A-Palooza, this summer turned the Rec into a hub of opportunity and fun.

This summer, Texas A&M Rec Sports had something for everyone. From the youngest Aggies splashing through summer camp to student staff clocking in for Student Leadership Training, Rec Sports spent the summer dedicated to its students and community members.

Amid all the summer events, Rec Sports also hosted two former student reunions offering alumni a chance at reconnection. The season capped off with Rec-A-Palooza — the ultimate kickoff party where connections and memories were created.

The summer opened with a Rec Reunion in May, where former students and employees returned to Aggieland to connect over a pasta bar and drinks. Kicking off with a game of golf at the Golf Club, former students reconnected on the course before enjoying a baseball tailgate.

Unlike most Rec reunions, this one was spread across the weekend, giving people more time to connect over barbecue and drinks.

“The people that played golf were able to kick back, relax and everybody else who came later got to attend

a Happy Hour where we rented out a space,” Operations & Events Associate Director Oscee Wheatfall III said. “Sometimes your schedule doesn’t coincide with you coming on a Friday, but you can make the Saturday, so it gives [people] more than one shot at the apple.”

A little less than a month later, another reunion took place — a smaller gathering tailored to the alumni population in Houston.

Former and current students, along with Rec Sports staff, reunited once again under the canopy of Karbach Brewing Company on June 12.

“It was a time that Rec Sports came to them, which I think is a pretty neat experience,” Director of Safety and Risk Management CJ Stancheski said.

“It’s cool to see who attends when we meet former [students] in their town.”

Meanwhile, back in College Station, Youth Programs kicked off this year’s summer camp in June with activities like swimming, scavenger hunts and themed weeks. As counselors guided the campers from one activity to another, the rock wall’s renovation became a chance to get creative.

4 | In Case You Missed It: A Rec Recap

“[My son] really liked the Battleship game that the counselors played in the indoor pool,” parent Beth Willhite said. “Each of the kids would get in groups and get in individual kayaks. And the counselors would pull the kayaks around the pool, and the kids were able to shoot water guns at each other and play Real Life Battleship.”

Yet, renovations were not the only reason that summer camp made some waves. This year marked the camp’s largest turnout surpassing its 2024 debut.

“We increased our total participation numbers by 240% from our first summer to our second,” Director of Youth Programs Sarah Beth Heiar said. “It was exciting to see campers who had returned from our first summer because they enjoyed it, and many of them brought new friends to try it out this summer.”

Then came August, and with it, Student Leadership Training, which served over 200 student employees.

Students were branched off into teams for presentations, leadership addresses and activities, teaching them the tools that will help them

In

In Case You Missed It: A Rec Recap

succeed in their departments as well as their future careers.

interpersonal relationships easier in a training situation.”

“We do shorter sessions now — all activity based stuff,” Operations & Leadership Program Director Christian Miller said.

“The biggest change would have to be incorporating the students into the leadership of the program, like the facilitation of critical thinking activit[ies]. We’ve adapted it to meet what the students want a little bit more.”

Three days later, student staff were back to host Rec-A-Palooza on August 24. With interactive games, fitness challenges and cameos of Yell Leaders, Rec-A-Palooza showcased all of the program areas and opportunities that Rec Sports has to offer.

Like Youth Program’s summer camp, Student Leadership Training also saw growth this year, surpassing its usual 200-person headcount. With more students in the room, collaboration and interdepartmental connection became vital for the day’s success.

“We always hear how many people work at Rec Sports but you don’t really see them in person,” Marketing & Communications videographer Dhruv Ruttala ‘26 said. “It was cool to meet them and realize everyone’s in the same position as you — we’re all students and we’re making the Rec run together. It was something that brought us together and made those

“Rec-A-Palooza was a lot of fun because I really enjoyed all the fun events they have to offer, especially the weight training games, hanging around and meeting new people,” Macy Bush ’28 said.

“Each station is completely different and to learn about them is helping me be better [for myself] and my body as well.”

Behind the scenes, student staff helped plan the event for months.

They spent the day leading games and activities, teaching students about their program areas, and then taking everything down to reset the Rec for regular use.

“Working Rec-a-Palooza is one of my favorite things I get to do as student staff,” Outdoor Adventures Trip Supervisor Jackson Bendele ’26 said.

“It’s great to see every part of the Rec working together to make sure this event is the best that it can be.”

Agility challenges like crate stacking and fitness challenges like the vertical jump test pushed students to their limits. But alongside all the action, Rec-A-Palooza is also a social gathering between student and staff.

“Rec-A-Palooza’s been crazy but also really fun,” Assistant Director of Strength and Conditioning DJ Scott said. “Students get to meet staff behind the scenes that they may not know or ever see. From the vertical jump test to deadlifts and any other form of movement, we’re focused on keeping things fun and welcoming while showing students that our team is made up of people just like them.”

Whether it was kids running through the Rec, student leaders in training, or new Aggies welcomed at Rec-APalooza, this summer celebrated recreation for all.

In Case You Missed It: A Rec Recap | 5

Water Sport Clubs Make Waves

Wa

Eight water sports round out the Sport Clubs roster, offering different equipment, styles and competition circuits On a campus best known for football Saturdays and traditions rooted firmly on dry land, few students realize just how many Aggies spend their afternoons on the water. From sailing and rowing to wakeboarding and water polo, Texas A&M is home to eight different student-led water sport clubs — each with its own community, competition circuit and culture.

open-water swims. All are entirely student-led, driven by officers who manage budgets, equipment, safety training and recruitment.

Together, they showcase a side of Aggie life that most never see: earlymorning practices on Lake Bryan, boats gliding across still water, and team bonds formed through shared grit and unpredictable weather.

For crew, teamwork is literal, with eight rowers and a coxswain working in perfect sync on the water.

“People don’t come to A&M and think water sports,” Texas A&M Crew head coach Sarah McQuaid ’25 said. “Everyone is always shocked when we have a rowing team.’”

Texas A&M’s eight water-focused sport clubs include crew, water ski, sailing, wakeboarding, swimming, triathlon and men’s and women’s water polo.

Some compete nationally or travel across the country.

Others train yearround, holding early morning practices, weekend regattas and

6 | Water Sport Clubs Make Waves

The sheer variety means there’s room for every type of athlete — adrenaline seekers, endurance racers, technical tacticians and anyone curious enough to try something new.

“Crew is considered the ultimate team sport,” McQuaid said. “Everything that you do affects everyone else in the boat. You really have to be one unit.”

That level of synchronization sets rowing apart from sports like wakeboarding or triathlon, where athletes compete individually. Triathlon athletes juggle three disciplines and compete solo, often racing in regional and national championships.

Swimming balances individual events with strong team scoring.

Water ski competitors alternate between trick, slalom and jump, and while

they cheer each other on, each skier usually rides alone.

But regardless of the format, all water sports share one thing: a deep respect for the environment that shapes them.

“Something that is similar in all water sports is that there’s a level of danger and risk that you have to be mindful of,” McQuaid said. “We all have strict safety procedures we follow, and we all help each other out. One of our safety procedures on crew is making sure that we have a motorized launch boat out, and sailing does something similar, so they often use our launch.”

For crew, this year has been one of rapid growth. During recruitment, the team welcomed over 70 new athletes, but keeping everyone engaged is no small feat.

“It’s just trying to give equal attention to all members,” McQuaid said.

“Whether they’ve been here a year or they’re brand new.”

Their commitment is paying off. This fall, both varsity squads improved 10 places at Head of the Hooch in Chattanooga, Tennessee — one of the largest regattas in the country.

At Head of the Brazos and the Waco Head-to-Head weekend, the team earned six first-place finishes, eight second-place finishes, four thirdplace finishes and 19 medals overall.

Water Sport Clubs Make Waves

Crew’s biggest neighbor on Lake Bryan is sailing. Crew, without straight waterways nearby, practices in figure-eights on the lake, with sailing using the middle space.

The sailing team competes in the Intercollegiate Sailing Association and races throughout the region.

Known for strong fundamentals and a close-knit community, the club fields co-ed teams and continues to grow as more students discover that you don’t need an ocean to sail.

College Station Christmas Parade for decorating their team boat.

“We had four out of five of our [women’s] jump team hit personal bests,” club president Jacob Fisk said.

“And we got to travel to California.

Doing that with 17 of my best friends created memories I’ll never forget.”

But not all water sports use boats.

Triathlon and club swimming round out the endurance side of the lineup.

Wakeboarding shares the lake occasionally, though they usually practice elsewhere.

“They create their own conditions,” McQuaid said. “They

Wakeboarding’s competitive team travels to collegiate national championships, often placing in the top ranks as individuals master spins, inverts, and rail tricks.

Texas A&M Water Ski is one of the most competitive water sports on campus. This year alone, the team placed 10th in the nation at Collegiate Nationals, finished top three in all five other tournaments in 2025, and won first place in the

Rounding out the list are men’s and women’s water polo, two of the most fast-paced, high-contact teams in Rec Sports. The clubs compete in the Texas division conference tournaments in hopes of qualifying for the Collegiate Water Polo Association national championships.

The men’s team competed in the fall and placed third, while the women’s team is gearing up for a spring competition season.

Among all water clubs, water polo most closely resembles a traditional team sport — with the added challenge of treading water for the entire game.

do leave wake on the lake, and something that is hard for us to row through. So usually, if there’s any type of wake boat, we kind of stay on one side of the lake and let them have the other side.”

Both sports often team up with Rec Sports’ Aquatics program to offer a predictable training environment, something unique among water clubs. No wind shifts, no wakes, no capsizing. Just the water and the work.

Triathlon athletes train across swimming, cycling and running, often competing in USA Triathlon events and collegiate nationals. The club emphasizes accessibility, with beginners and seasoned racers training side by side, and athletes compete in sprint, Olympic and sometimes half-Iron distances.

Club swimming balances technique with intensity. The club offers lanes for all skill levels and regularly competes against powerhouse club teams at regional and national meets.

Despite different equipment, styles and competition circuits, the eight water clubs share beginnerfriendly cultures, student leadership, an emphasis on water safety, strong communities, and a dedication to athletic excellence.

“It wasn’t the skiing that kept me involved,” Fisk said. “It was the genuine relationships I formed with everyone on the team that kept me here. I’ve not only grown as a skier but as a person. I’ve been challenged in ways I wouldn’t have experienced anywhere else. I credit a lot of my successes in life to the ski team and the people I’ve met.”

Water Sport Clubs Make Waves | 7

Sean McKeon ’27: Scaling New Heights

Se

SEAN MCKEON ’27:

SCALING NEW HEIGHTS Junior route setter gains hands-on experience with EP Climbing internship

When the new Texas A&M Rec Center climbing wall opens, students will line up to test their strength on its towering faces and sleek new bouldering spaces. Few will realize one of their own helped build it this summer.

designed to be built and taken down within a week,” he said. “Whereas going to Philadelphia, I got to build my first real climbing wall at a climbing gym for Movement Kensington. I got to help with two of the zones there, building bouldering walls.”

Route setter Sean McKeon ’27 spent the summer working with EntrePrises, the company that designed and constructed Rec Sports’ new climbing wall. Through an internship recommended by his supervisors at Outdoor Adventures, McKeon joined the company in traveling across the country to help build climbing structures in Denver, Philadelphia, and College Station.

But the final stop, Texas A&M, was personal.

“Michael Gonzalez, the climbing coordinator at Texas A&M Rec Center, knows I’ve been interested in joining somewhere in the climbing community, and that’s one of the reasons I became a setter,” McKeon said. “He was able to get in contact with Entre-Prises, and I was able to get an internship with them where I got to go all over the country this summer building different rock walls.”

His first assignment took him to Denver, where he helped assemble a world cup speed wall.

“That competition was very interesting because the wall itself was outdoors, and it was more of a modular wall, something that was

“Here was my first real tower and my first island,” McKeon said. “That was its own challenge, due to how all the panels have to come together and the requirements with A&M making it perfect.”

Before his internship, McKeon joined the Rec Sports climbing team a year and a half ago, setting the routes for climbers at ​ all ​ three ​ climbing​ facilities.

that, basically making it as easy as possible for them to put the wall together.”

Through the internship, McKeon found that his mechanical manufacturing engineering technology coursework fit naturally with the job.

“I surprised myself by the engineering knowledge I’ve learned being applicable for this,” he said.

“Specifically with tension, putting these walls together, these panels are under a lot of stress, and being able to understand how that works and how I can mitigate that is surprisingly useful.”

Michael Gonzalez, the climbing program coordinator, said McKeon’s drive and curiosity made him a natural fit for the opportunity.

“Sean, from the very beginning, you’ll notice that he’s extremely passionate about rock climbing,” Gonzales said.

“He just lives and breathes it. All his spare time is spent climbing with friends and community members, and he really delves into every nook and cranny of what is climbing.”

“My job as route setter is to strip and reset all of the rock wall,” he said.

“We’ll do it in sections and empty and reset the routes on it so that people can try something new and different every few weeks.”

That on-campus experience gave him the foundation and confidence to take on a hands-on construction role with Entre-Prises.

“Day to day, I was just one of five people building the rock wall,” he said. “Most of the time I was either behind the wall or in front of it, putting panels in or prepping panels with rafters and stuff like

8 | Sean McKeon ’27: Scaling New Heights

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Sean McKeon ’27: Scaling New Heights

Gonzalez first connected McKeon with Entre-Prises after meeting representatives at an industry conference.

“I immediately thought of Sean,” he said. “I talked to them and it was like, ‘I have a student who’s super passionate about climbing. How can I get him involved in this industry?’

And he made it happen.”

That support from staff, McKeon said, has been a defining part of his entire Rec Sports experience, not just for the summer internship.

“Todd’s one of the people who hired me, and he’s been amazing, helping foster me as a climber and as a setter, and giving me the resources I need to grow,” McKeon said. “With Michael, he was able to pave the way for me and other setters to become very good at that, and to be able to find crazy opportunities like this.”

For Todd Grier, program director for Outdoor Adventures, McKeon’s story represents the best of what Rec Sports can offer students.

“The best of what Rec Sports offers students is a launchpad for realworld experience,” Grier said. “What may start as a fun campus job often grows into something much more.

Student staff have the opportunity to

apply their coursework in hands-on settings, navigating team dynamics and real challenges. Thanks to mentors like Michael, Rec Sports helped Sean discover an industry where his passion and training aligned, and it’s pretty special that the new tower had an Aggie undergrad on the team putting it together.”

Grier described McKeon’s energy as “infectious.”

“If you’re around Sean and he’s talking about climbing, you’re going to get excited too, even if you’re not a climber,” he said. “For a climber in College Station, he is one of our strongest climbers, but he is just as stoked for a novice climber to get on the wall and explore climbing.”

That now drives McKeon in his new role as head route setter — a position he recently earned following his internship. Gonzalez said the promotion is a logical next step.

“He’ll actually be leading our route setting group during his time here,” Gonzalez said. “There’s a lot of detail that goes into being a head setter. He’s going to learn a lot about the administration work, so him stepping into the role, he’s already

taken that next step, and I’m excited to see where he takes the program.”

McKeon said the new wall represents not just a physical upgrade, but the next stage of Texas A&M’s climbing culture.

“This new wall is more modern,” he said. “It’s better for all of us. It’s better for the climbers, better for the setters.

It’s just going to provide a better culture around climbing at A&M, something that’s a big culture elsewhere that we’re trying to bring here.”

And with that brand new wall opening soon, McKeon is already looking ahead — whether that’s continuing to set routes, working with EntrePrises again or one day helping design climbing walls himself. But for now, he’s proud to see his work standing tall in the heart of campus.

“I care a lot about climbing at the Rec Center and at A&M,” he said. “I think there’s a lot of growth possible here, and I’m glad to be part of making that happen.”

Sean McKeon ’27: Scaling New Heights | 9

Care in Crisis

CARE IN CRISIS

IN CRISIS Rec Sports staff coordinated support following student injury before classes started

The day before the start of the fall semester, a student sustained a serious leg injury at the Student Rec Center. Thanks to the response of Rec Sports student staff and professional safety personnel, the student received immediate care and follow-up support coordinated through multiple campus resources.

The incident occurred shortly after Rec-A-Palooza, Rec Sports’ annual welcome event. Facility supervisors on duty were the first to respond.

“Someone came and grabbed us from the desk, and they told us there was either a dislocated knee or maybe someone broke their leg,” Facilities Supervisor Aika Davis ’26 said. “So I didn’t really think I was going into anything serious, but when I got there, the leg was obviously deformed, and his friends were holding his leg.”

Davis immediately stepped in to manage the scene and comfort the student until emergency services arrived.

“I came over, got down to his level, just so that he knew that someone was here to help him,” Davis said. “I introduced myself, I got his name, I got the information of what happened,

10 | Care in Crisis

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and at that time, I’d already directed my fellow supervisor to call 911, just because it was obvious that it was an emergent situation.”

type of care was provided. Then I end up asking them what additional resources are needed, that they may have, and how they’re doing.”

The injured student, a freshman who had only been on campus for a total of three days, was transported to a local hospital for treatment. As a graduate student in athletic training, Davis said her experience helped her stay calm during the response.

Because the student was hospitalized, Stancheski also collaborated with other university offices to ensure a smooth recovery and transition back to classes.

“Obviously, you don’t expect a major accident to happen, but I deal with emergent situations all the time,” she said. “I was prepared if something like this were to happen.”

Once the initial emergency response

by Facilities staff concluded, the Rec Sports Safety and Risk Management team took over. Director of Safety and Risk Management CJ Stancheski ’18 oversees all incident follow-ups within Rec Sports facilities. “[The] next day, I come into the office and I review the injury, see what happened, and I end up sending out an email to the individual,” Stancheski said. “Typically, it’s letting them know that our records indicate that they were injured on X date, doing X activity, and I list out what

“I knew that they may be missing classes,” he said. “So trying to let Student Assistance Services know, ‘Hey, I may have a student I’m going to be referring to you,’ because they can help with things like student absence notifications and notifying professors.”

The university’s Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) is a 24/7 support unit that assists students experiencing crises and was also involved in the follow-up process.

Many Rec Sports full-time staff have been on-call members of the team at one point.

“Within the Office of Student Life, there is a team called Critical Incident Response Team, and they provide care and support to students who are in a time of crisis,” Stancheski said. “It’s activated by a call from University Police Department, and

Care in Crisis a full-time staff member is on call 24/7. They respond to the individual and provide an initial touch point and resource for the student.”

According to Stancheski, CIRT representatives often visit students in the hospital, assist with academic notifications, and ensure they feel supported during recovery.

“It may be a friendly face, because sometimes students don’t have anyone else with them at the hospital,” he said. “So just being able to answer questions and letting them know what the CIRT team does, and it’s providing support.”

For Stancheski, the incident reinforced the importance of detailed reporting and ongoing staff training, especially when coordinating across different program areas within Rec Sports, such as the Facilities team.

“We’re at a point where all of our student staff is First Aid/CPR/AED certified, which I think was a big undertaking for the size of our department,” he said. “I think that now enables us to provide better coverage within our department, especially since we operate multiple facilities with varying hours throughout the day.”

Davis echoed the importance of preparedness, adding that firsthand experience strengthens the culture of safety at Rec Sports. Carter Plake ’26 was training with Davis at the time of the incident, and was actually the one who called 911, allowing him to gain crucial real-world experience in incident response.

“On that shift, I was actually training someone for their first supervisor shift ever,” she said. “Letting him

see how I manage the patient on the ground [was] helpful. They’ve never been in a situation like that, so it’s good experience for them here at Rec Sports, and they can kind of take that with them if an emergency were to ever happen.”

For both student employees and professional staff, the goal of Rec Sports’ safety program is to ensure that every patron feels cared for beyond the moment of injury.

“I think it’s the protocol of making sure that anyone who gets injured doesn’t just feel like someone who got injured,” Stancheski said. “It’s more of, how can I provide care and support for you post-injury or point you in the direction that can get you the resources that you need?”

“I typically try and hit home with our staff the importance of filling out an injury and illness report properly by providing us with as much detail as they can,” he said. “That way, it makes my job a little bit easier to navigate what really happened, so that way I know how best to triage this report.”

All Rec Sports student employees are trained and certified in first aid, CPR, and AED through the American Red Cross. Stancheski said this departmentwide certification helps ensure that staff across multiple facilities are equipped to handle emergencies.

Care in Crisis | 11

Strength Meets Support with Personal Training

STRENGTH MEETS SUPPORT WITH PERSONAL TRAINING

With expertise and support, personal trainers help their clients achieve sustainable fitness goals

Most walk right past its doors, beelining for the dumbbells or the squat racks ahead. A few steal curious glances from the turf, trying to peek past its doors. But right across the Weight Room entrance is the Student Rec Center’s Personal Training Suite — a space where great expectations meet even greater results, staffed with certified personal trainers ready to help clients reach their goals.

“We have clients that are training for powerlifting competitions, one girl [was training] for Miss Texas, [and] we also have professors and staff that are coming back from injuries, wanting to pick up their grandkids,” graduate assistant Jeran Aguilar ‘27 said. “Simple things, like being able to develop people’s abilities and help them progress through life, is a big thing.”

With college comes responsibilities — exams, student organizations, grocery runs and part-time jobs. Life can get so busy that going to the gym becomes an afterthought. And even when students finally find a free hour, gym anxiety can greet them at the door, sending any thought of a healthy routine retreating just as fast as it arrived. Personal trainers like Bayley Otto ’26 help ease that fear, allowing clients to focus on progress instead of watchful eyes.

“We’re on a college campus where everyone is in the best shape of their lives, working out consistently, [so] the weight room is admittedly a pretty intimidating place,” client Grace Shoop ‘26 said. “[Otto] has completely transformed my relationship with the gym to the

point that I’m not scared to walk into the gym and I’m not afraid to push myself and try something new even when we’re not together.”

Healthy relationships with the gym aren’t the only connections personal training builds. Somewhere between the fiftieth rep and the dramatic collapse mid-plank, the client-trainer dynamic often grows into something deeper.

“The relationships formed between clients and trainers are truly special, and as someone who has managed the program, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing these connections firsthand,” Strength & Conditioning Assistant Director DJ Scott said. “It’s something that’s hard to beat.”

Personal training at the Rec isn’t a one-way street where only clients reap the benefits. For student

12 | Strength Meets Support with Personal Training

trainers, each client builds leadership experience and opens doors to future career opportunities.

“We’ve evolved the program to include advancement opportunities that help trainers build management and leadership skills,” Scott said. “All of our personal trainers are certified and receive ongoing education and evaluations to continually sharpen their skills and deliver a high-quality experience.”

All of that training and preparation leads to an unexpected truth: the ultimate goal for clients is independence. Trainers can cater to students and guide their journey — but not forever. Real success comes when students realize they’ve gone miles beyond where their trainers first met them.

“I love my clients, but I know I’ve done my job when they no longer need me,” personal trainer Dylan Mihealsick ‘26 said.

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A Room Of Their Own

A ROOM

OWN

OF THEIR Pilates Reformer class gets its own room in the Student Rec Center

Some students wake up at 8:30am, ready to start their day with a strength-and-stretch session on the Pilates Reformer, only to discover that their first act of strength is heaving a 120-pound machine into place just to begin class. Even after the workout, their final act of strength is dragging that same reformer back into the storage closet. It got tedious — fast.

“A lot of the dance clubs and dance teams would come to use [Room 2221] to do their practices,” reformer instructor Alicia Fournier ’28 said. “We would have to share that space. Each class, we would have to roll each individual reformer out, set it up, and then lift the heavy machines back into the storage.”

At least, that was the story for the past few semesters.

Now, the story has changed.

“With the help of the Strength & Conditioning staff, we moved the reformers over to [Room] 304 in August of this year,” Fitness & Wellness Director Anna Taggart said.

“Participants can just pop in and sit down on a reformer versus getting there early to move it out of the closet.”

With a new room solely dedicated to Pilates Reformer,

there also came the need for more instructors. In the spring, Fitness & Wellness hosted a Pilates Reformer certification through Balanced Body, doubling the number of instructors from five to 10 and allowing the program to serve more participants.

But that’s not all.

“Having this dedicated space has also allowed us to launch Pilates Reformer Private Training and have a dedicated space for reformer instructors to practice and grow their skills,” Taggart said. “We are excited to paint the room a new color and add new lighting in the future to really make the space more welcoming and fit the Pilates vibe.”

While the new room provides convenience for the team, it’s also a testament to Fitness & Wellness’ dedication to participants and patrons.

“I really like the effort and development they’re putting into the reformer programs,” Theresa Terrones ’26 said.

“It’s something a lot of people have wanted for a long time. It improves class flow and makes everything more productive.”

A Room Of Their Own | 13

Back and Better than Ever

Ba

Major Rec Sports renovation reopening brings new climbing tower, expanded bouldering wall and fully refreshed locker rooms After months of construction, detours and anticipation, Rec Sports has officially reopened its renovated indoor climbing tower, expanded bouldering wall and fully upgraded locker rooms — marking it one of the most significant transformations to the Student Recreation Center since it opened in 1995.

The project, completed Nov. 3, brings modernized facilities and a dramatically expanded climbing experience to one of the Rec’s most heavily used areas.

“We realize we only get one chance to get these things right and make sure these renovations stand the test of time,” said Oscee Wheatfall III, associate director of operations and events, in an October construction update.

“I am really excited for our members to get back into these spaces and hopefully have an elevated experience.”

The new 44-foot, 8-inch indoor climbing tower now features 25 roped lanes, including slab, vertical, slight overhang and steep routes, as well as refreshed lighting, new belay systems and state-of-the-art Strati padding. The bouldering wall, built in place of racquetball courts one and three, adds 95 linear feet of climbable terrain with angles up to 41 degrees.

For many students, the upgrades have already transformed their climbing experience.

14 | Back and Better than Ever

“I’ve loved the newly renovated spaces,” Liana Grissom ’29 said. “The new rock climbing centers are honestly one of my favorite parts of the Rec now. They look amazing, have way more routes, and just feel super fun to climb.”

Justin Bishop ’29 said the redesign sparked a new interest in the sport. He is not alone. In the first 18 days after the reopening, over 1,000 Rec Sports members and guests visited the climbing tower, and over 800 used the bouldering space.

“The rockwalls have been my favorite part,” he said.

“Climbing is an activity that I’m just starting to get into, and

<<< SCAN TO WATCH VIDEO

Back and Better than Ever so far these new walls have been amazing.”

With the new size and design, Outdoor Adventures Program Director Todd Grier said that the change was necessary to keep up with the sport’s current trends.

“Recreation evolves, and so does climbing,” Grier said in October’s substantial completion announcement. “This renovation reflects our commitment to keeping pace with modern interests and giving Aggies a space that inspires and challenges.”

Alongside the climbing upgrades, Rec Sports fully modernized the men’s and women’s locker rooms, adding single-stall showers, expanded grooming areas, higher ceilings, updated lighting and a clean, open layout designed for comfort and convenience.

Additional features, including dry saunas, will be added over the winter break.

“My favorite part of the renovations are the locker rooms,” Nolan Iordanescu ’28 said. “Having the locker rooms is really nice because now I can change before working out.”

Overall, the goal was to improve the student experience when they walked into the Rec, focusing on elevating the space from convenience to luxury.

“The new locker rooms [are a] huge upgrade,” Grissom said.

“They’re so much cleaner and nicer, and it actually feels good getting ready in there before and after workouts.

The renovations made the Rec feel way more modern and exciting, and I’m really happy about it.”

The reopening has drawn both returning Rec regulars and new users ready to explore the expanded offerings.

“It’s been amazing to watch the Rec be renovated, and now to see the students begin enjoying the new spaces and climbing walls,” Emily Franz ’27 said. “Refreshing the spaces and renewing them for another generation of Aggies was a core factor in these renovations.

I think that this goal has been met, and the facilities can serve students for many more years to come.”

Locker Room - Corridor with lockers on both sides

For Karla Daniela Lopez Lorenzo ’30, who never saw the pre-renovation facility, the new setup exceeded expectations.

“I was excited when I first visited the climbing wall and my positive experience led me to register for the belaying clinic,” she said. “The first time I tried the tall wall, I loved it. The sets are great and the personnel is really kind.”

Construction spanned months, from demolition in May, to steel and panel installation over the summer, to route-setting and finishing touches in October. The redesigned spaces were developed in partnership with EP Climbing, the same company behind Olympic climbing walls, and were shaped using student input and staff expertise.

Locker Room - Vanity and Grooming Area

Locker Room - New towel drop off location

Throughout the planning process, Rec Sports leaders emphasized the importance of building for longterm use, a priority students say is essential.

“Keeping everything updated helps the Rec match the energy and growth of the campus, and it shows that [they] care about giving students the best possible environment for health, wellness, and community,” Grissom said.

Locker Room - Showers

Back and Better than Ever | 15

Made in MarComm: Bringing the Brand to Life

Th

MADE IN MARCOMM:

BRINGING THE

BRAND TO LIFE

One in-house team of creatives tells the Rec Sports story across platforms

The Marketing & Communications office, better known as MarComm, functions like its own internal agency, where the clients are other program areas across the department, from Aquatics to Outdoor Adventures or Intramural Sports to Strength & Conditioning. Its role is to tell stories clearly, creatively and consistently.

“We have described this before as similar to a marketing agency,” Social Media & Events Manager Raegan Huffman ’26 said. “We meet with each of the program areas to see what events and offerings they have throughout the semester, and how they would like us to promote them. We then create the products, whether that is photo, video, graphics or articles, and send them back to the program areas to get approved.”

That rhythm of requests coming in, ideas moving out and content flowing between teams defines daily life in MarComm, where the work is anything but predictable.

Graphic designers, writers, social media managers, photographers and videographers all sit within a few feet of each other, with various projects bouncing quickly from screen to screen. Often, different teams will work on multimedia content pieces that come together in larger campaigns.

“I work closely with photography, social media and videography to ensure that there is consistency across the campaign materials that we are pushing out,” graphic designer

Theresa Terrones ’26 said. “I am able to communicate directly with them in the office, which makes for an efficient process, especially when they’re just a chair away.”

Social media content anchors many of MarComm’s efforts, and its fast pace means constant coordination.

“The social media team divides up tasks so we are each assigned to certain campaigns,” Huffman said. “We each brainstorm content for what we are assigned, but we work together to film and take photos for each post that we create. This semester I was really proud of how much content we were able to create. We posted almost every single day.”

And every day, those posts support a different Rec Sports event or offering.

The program areas, operating like clients, submit requests and marketing priorities that the designers and social media team then brings to life.

“We reach out to them early to share our ideas, confirm feasibility, and make sure we capture their offerings accurately,” Social Media & Events Assistant Alekzandra De La Rosa ’26 said. “For example, when we film content for Outdoor Adventures, especially at the climbing facilities, we coordinate with their staff to get approval and ensure the project aligns with what they want to promote.”

Professional staff orchestrates the constant flow of requests, supporting each area of the marcomm team in their own way. From approving

16 | Made in MarComm: Bringing the Brand to Life

designs to copy editing blog articles, Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications Kelly VonDrehle ’06 delivers flawless marketing materials by empowering the team of students behind them.

“One of the projects I’m most proud of this semester was our campaign for the grand opening of the new and renovated locker rooms, indoor climbing tower and bouldering wall,” VonDrehle said. “It was a significant undertaking in a short period of time, but our entire team invested the time and energy needed to make the launch a success.”

The final products are all most students will ever see. But behind every polished graphic, every reel and every sentence on the Rec Sports website is a team of student creatives who spend their semesters learning, supporting one another and managing a brand voice much bigger than their own.

For one student employee, now writing her last article for the department, the work meant everything.

“With MarComm, I have written thousands of words for the blog and magazine, stepped into leadership roles, and been supported and recognized at every step,” Content Writing Manager Claire Frazier ’25 said. “I’m proud of the work I’ve done here, but I’m even more proud that I got to do it with this team.”

The Quietest Party on Campus

THE QUIETEST PARTY

ON CAMPUS

Adorned with glowsticks and headphones students and staff party at Silent at the Disco Most students funnel through the main entrance to head straight for the obvious hubs — the weight room, the new rockwall or a Group RecXercise class. But upstairs in the Annex, down a winding hallway, there’s a room you can see before you ever hear it — a room that is silent.

Room 2229 is cloaked in darkness, illuminated only by neon bracelets, glow stick glasses and the soft light of headphones. The only source of sound is pulsing through your ears. It’s Silent at the Disco at the Rec. As students pour into the room at 6pm on Oct. 29, the daylight slips away and the black-light party unfolds. As jams like “Buttons” by The Pussycat Dolls and “Bang Bang” by Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj start to play, the room ripples as strangers and friends fall into a rhythm. But this isn’t just any other Silent Disco.

“At most silent disco parties, everyone has their own headphones and they’re all listening to their own music and vibing together,” lead instructor Jennifer Rhinesmith-Carranza said. “[But] at our Silent at the Disco, it is a group dance party. We’re all listening to the same music, and it’s a fun way

to have a dance party with 50 of your best Aggie friends.”

With three instructors leading a choreographed session, it may look like a typical Group RecXercise dance class at the Rec, but it isn’t.

What sets it apart is the lack of mirrors in the room, allowing participants to focus solely on the music and their groove.

“It was such a joyful event where everyone gets to dance and not really care about what they’re doing, but just have fun,” Madelaine Setiawan ’27 said. “Part of it is like a workout class, which is really great because it’s also free. Such a stress reliever too and I’m really thankful for [Fitness & Wellness] for putting it together.”

Yet long before the neon lights or music ever filled the room, it existed only as an idea in former fitness instructor Shannon Pfeiffer’s head.

“When our instructor Shannon came to me with the idea of using the headphones and calling it ‘Silent at the Disco,’ I said ‘Let’s do it,’” Director of Fitness & Wellness Anna

Taggart said. “I always love how excited students get when they see their vision come to life. It’s a proud moment as a leader.”

As the event came to a close, students and staff alike joined in for a final dance. The disco died down and the music started to fade, but the cheers didn’t as participants gathered to wait for the raffle draw.

With a chance to win a gym bag and four Century Square Day of Fun passes, participants held onto their raffle tickets, hoping luck was on their side.

“We use exercise for connection,” Rhinesmith-Carranza said. “You get the fun aspect [of] going out with friends and going to a party, but you get a little bit more of a guided structure and workout from certified instructors. It’s such a fun event. It’s like Rec-A-Palooza with glow sticks.”

The Quietest Party on Campus | 17

Behind the Scenes of Hosting an Event with Operations & Events

Be

BEHIND THE SCENES

OF HOSTING AN EVENT WITH OPERATIONS & EVENTS From practice courts to banquet halls, Rec Sports hosts thousands of events annually thanks to Operations & Events team

From tailgates to statewide science fairs to late-night student banquets, Rec Sports hosts thousands of bookings each year. What most students don’t see is the planning, coordination and teamwork necessary to bring those events to life.

For Operations, Reservations and Events Program Director Emily Patterson, overseeing Operations & Events is about making the space work for everyone and supporting her team’s day-to-day coordination with student organizations, departments and external groups.

Sports programming or everyday student use.

“If we could fill up every event space all the time, that would be great for those groups,” Patterson said. “But there’s other factors that we have to think about. That’s internal programming, making sure that they have the space to support their needs, as well as our free play, just students who want to come in and use the Rec Center.”

“My role with events is really just support,” she said. “I help with questions, and then try to coordinate if there’s an issue with space, because we get a lot of requests. On the post side of the event, I’m doing all the invoicing, so double-checking to make sure that the group is getting charged correctly and then sending those bills out.”

Assistant Director for Operations, Reservations and Events Alyssa Moncrief oversees the process long before an event ever reaches a room layout or audiovisual setup.

She manages internal Rec Sports reservations, student organization bookings and events across all facilities, from the Student Rec Center to PEAP to the Penberthy Rec Sports Complex.

Trying to accommodate as many groups as possible with the facility is a daily balancing act, ensuring events don’t interfere with Rec

“I basically manage all of our spaces,” Moncrief said. “There are a lot of small pieces that are involved in our reservation process.”

18 | Behind the Scenes of Hosting an Event with Operations & Events

And she can’t do it without her growing student team, which has expanded the office’s capacity since it was added to the roster about a year and a half ago.

“It allows them to learn the backend of those events and some autonomy, which is really exciting,” Moncrief said. “And for me, it truly opens up my time to be able to manage all of the different spaces that we have.”

In the 2025 fiscal year, which runs from September through August, Rec Sports hosted nearly 16,000 bookings across all facilities. These included practices, fitness and kinesiology classes, meetings, trainings and events, serving student organizations, Texas A&M departments and external groups.

“On a big weekend in the spring, we could have 15 different events,” she said. “It’s important to step back and realize, for this group, it’s the most important, so making sure that they’re all getting the attention that they deserve.”

The team members responsible for managing, training and even

Behind the Scenes of Hosting an Event with Operations & Events

leading events are often students on Moncrief’s team. For Kaitlyn McKenzie ’26, that hands-on role is the best part of the job.

“In the beginning, we started slow with just a few responsibilities, as it was all brand new,” she said. “But I would say now there’s been so much added on to where we can assist in different ways. It’s not like I’m just sitting behind a desk. I’m actually learning the operations behind events, keeping things organized, meeting with people and having customer relations.”

And when the event begins, McKenzie serves as the point person.

“I’m the lead for whenever events are actually happening,” she said.

“So if they need any assistance dayof, I’m right there [to] help with all of the audio and visual components, all the spaces and serve as a point of contact.”

As one of the team’s first student employees, McKenzie helped shape the processes that now support thousands of bookings. While many events take place on courts or fields, not all of them are sports-related.

“We have the Texas Science and Engineering Fair,” Moncrief said.

“We’ve hosted robotics competitions

on the courts, we’ve hosted conferences in our rooms. I think people look at a rec center and they’re like, ‘we’re gonna have a tournament.’ But they don’t realize that we have some really nice banquet spaces, and that that’s a possibility.”

Hosting different events across these dynamic spaces creates a unique connection to the Bryan-College Station community. Working with on-campus groups, in particular, is a way for Rec Sports to serve students who might not otherwise be involved with the department.

“Helping organizations run an event is very student-development focused,” Moncrief said. “You’re working with them on timelines, budgets and making sure that all of their paperwork is in. It’s really exciting to see that growth in those students. It also is a way for students to experience Rec Sports. Not every student wants to participate in the different programming we have, and that’s okay. Maybe their home at Rec Sports is their Tuesday night dance practice, or their once-a-semester banquet in one of the rooms.”

The next big event on the docket for Operations & Events is the second

annual SEC Recreation Summit, which was hosted last year by the University of Florida. The summit, scheduled for the spring 2026 semester, will bring a network of collegiate recreation professionals to Rec Sports facilities.

“I’m really excited to showcase our facilities,” Patterson said. “In the works we have a facility tour, which is always fun for us on the Operations & Events side. Everything for the summit will be in the Student Rec Center, in all of our multipurpose rooms. We’ll have meals, breakout sessions, as well as fitness classes that they’ll want to host. So it’s taken a lot of coordination.”

With thousands of bookings each year, a new team of student workers and countless moving parts, Rec Sports events do far more than fill a room. They build community — one banquet, tournament, and science fair at a time.

“Our spaces are unique on campus,” Patterson said.

“Some of the requests we get, we’re the only space that can accommodate them,” “It showcases a different side to Rec Sports.”

Behind the Scenes of Hosting an Event with Operations & Events | 19

The Gatekeeper of the Funds: Arranna Bennett ’93

Th

THE GATEKEEPER

OF THE FUNDS:

ARRANNA

BENNETT’93 After nearly 30 years of managing Rec Sports’ financial resources, the director of business services is set to retire

As director of business services, Arranna Bennett ’93 became the gatekeeper of Rec Sports’ financial resources and one of the architects behind the systems that keep the department stable, accountable and student-centered. Now, as she prepares for retirement, she leaves behind processes, policies and a culture that will guide Rec Sports for decades to come.

She didn’t plan on a nearly 30-year career at Texas A&M. She just knew she wanted to grow. Before joining Rec Sports, Bennett was already on campus working as a senior staff accountant for the Texas Ag Extension Service. She applied for the Rec Sports role, didn’t get it on the first try, and moved on — until the phone rang again.

“Long story, I didn’t get it the first time,” she said. “And then the person they hired, although they were a fantastic candidate, had a life change and had to move on within a couple of months of the job. And so Tom [Reber] reached out to me, and I had a second opportunity to apply for it,

and I got it. And I was very grateful, because I absolutely loved it. But I still had so much to learn.”

She stepped into Rec Sports in 1997, before satellite facilities, before shared digital files and before Rec Sports became the large, multifaceted department it is today.

One of her earliest influences was former senior associate director Tom Reber, who recognized her drive and encouraged her to pursue her CPA. What he wrote on her evaluation changed the course of her career.

“He put it in there as a goal that I should accomplish and get my CPA,” she said. “That was like the gauntlet was thrown down.”

She studied every chance she had and, when possible, was allowed to study at work. She eventually passed, and that momentum carried her through years of financial leadership at Rec Sports, ultimately becoming responsible for ensuring the department’s financial stability across decades, debt cycles and changing campus needs.

20 | The Gatekeeper of the Funds: Arranna Bennett ’93

“I will forever be grateful to Tom Reber for giving me a chance and to Dennis Corrington for sharing all of his knowledge and expertise related to the Campus Recreation industry,” Bennett said.

“Arranna and I created some of the most complicated spreadsheets that helped us understand our budget and our budgeting process and how we’re going to afford these facilities for the next 100 years,” former executive director Dennis Corrington said. “She was an excellent partner and an excellent employee, and I wish her the very best in her retirement.”

In her role, Bennett oversaw multiple funding streams, including Rec Sports fee revenue, generated revenue, gift funds, Student Affairs allocations and occasional state funds, helping guide how those dollars were used.

“My job is to manage the longterm finances of the department,” she said. “I’m kind of like the gatekeeper of the funds, and I love making sure that they get used

The Gatekeeper of the Funds: Arranna Bennett ’93 for what they were intended for.”

She played a central role in supporting the legislation that protects student access, navigating fee increases and designing systems that ensure student oversight and accountability. When Rec Sports built or expanded facilities, she built the financial models that made them possible.

One tool she worked on most students will never see: the pro forma statement, the department’s long-range income projection stretching 30 years into the future.

“That’s been really interesting,” she said.

“We’ve done a lot of big projects, and we are dabbling in some very large projects in the coming years. I’ve been able to effectively come up with these projections, and we’ve always been accurate and on target.”

Alongside that work, Bennett stewarded the department’s most important internal control — the budget review committee — which she has shaped, refined and led for years.

them all the time. We all learn from each other, including our students, and my team has grown and become experts in their field.”

Her leadership style grew from experience and humility, shaped by years of learning, adapting and working alongside new staff members who asked smart questions and challenged old processes.

“I’m a very informal leader,” Bennett said. “If I can help you shine, then you’re going to shine, and you’re going to reflect that on me. There’s pretty much nothing that my team can’t tell me. I didn’t start out that way — I had to develop a thick skin, and I had to get comfortable in my skin and trust people.”

“I need to be there for my family,” she said. “I would like to do a little more traveling, and it’s possible I’ll keep working in some capacity. I love to learn. I’ve got grandkids and kids, so I plan on spending more time with them.”

Through this next chapter, Rec Sports will remain a part of her.

“I really don’t think Rec Sports will ever be out of my system,” she said.

Bennett ran the numbers. She touched countless lives. And she leaves behind something bigger: a Rec Sports that is financially steady, student-focused and built to last.

She learned early to seek counsel, always listen first and defer credit to the team — lessons became central to the way business services operates.

“I like to seek wise counsel,” she said.

“Before I make a decision, I listen and get everybody’s perspective, and that always results in a better perspective and decision.”

“That budget review committee is the number one internal control that Rec Sports has,” she said. “I’m thankful that I’ve been a part of that ever since I started, and it has evolved as the needs of the department and technology have changed.”

After nearly three decades, the list of programs, policies and facilities she’s influenced is long.

But her impact extends beyond spreadsheets and projections. It lives in the culture she helped foster — one built on committees, shared ownership, student involvement and collaboration.

Those systems anchored Rec Sports through expansions, financial shifts, procedural changes and evolving student needs. But the system she speaks of most proudly is not a financial one — it’s the human one.

“You feel like everybody has a voice,” she said. “When you know you’ve been heard, then you can buy into a program. And when it counts, you feel like you’re part of the team you can defend.”

“I’ve always had an amazing business services team,” she said. “I learn from

Retirement, for Bennett, isn’t slowing her down — just shifting focus.

The Gatekeeper of the Funds: Arranna Bennett ’93 | 21

New Graduate Assistants

Ne

NEW STAFF

KENDRICK ALLMENDINGER

PAUL CHU

PAUL HARDIN-SPECHT ’26

“Working at Texas A&M Rec Sports has allowed me to grow and develop new skills in the field of aquatics, as well as learn more about what goes into being a professional leader.”

“From staff to students, Rec Sports at Texas A&M is truly second to none, and it is an honor to learn and grow alongside such an exceptional team. ”

“In my short time in Aggieland, I have been provided the opportunity to see the tangible, direct impact we have on our students and to me that is truly the most rewarding aspect!”

Aquatics Coordinator

Assessment & Data Coordinator

Sport Clubs Coordinator

JERAN AGUILAR ‘26

Graduate Assistant, Strength & Conditioning “My long term goal is to own and operate my own gym.

Gaining experience working with both the personal training and strength and conditioning department has proven to be a great step towards my career goals.”

22 | New Graduate Assistants

New Staff

MEMBERS

AUSTIN HEBER ’26

DR. STEPHANIE LEGAKO

“The highlight so far has been the willingness of the student staff to work, learn, and develop both professionally and in their current position.“

“I’ve enjoyed getting to know this profession, and learning about Rec Sports from the best of the best at Texas A&M.”

Intramural Coordinator

Associate Director, Special Projects

BROOKE TURNER

Associate Director, Administrative & Support Services

“It is rewarding to know that the work we do enhances the student experience, builds community, provides leadership development, and supports lifelong wellness.”

LOLA KILIDDJIAN

Graduate Assistant, Ftiness & Wellness “The connections that I’m building everyday at work are helping me build my network and seek numerous career opportunities.”

New Staff | 23

SEMESTER

24 | semester

semester | 25

Year in Numbers

YEAR IN DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

99

NUMBERS FY26 BUDGET

694,386 square feet of indoor space (includes PEAP) 1,797,196 gallons of water in aquatics facilities 50 acres of outdoor field space 15 outdoor tennis courts 10 pickleball courts

YEARS ON CAMPUS

1,795,018

68.8%

Total Visits Fiscal Year 2025

Students Use Rec Facilities

TOTAL REVENUE REC SPORTS FEE REVENUE

20,360,000

GENERATED REVENUE

4,144,617

FUNDING FROM RESERVES

2,000,000

SEIBEL FUNDING SOUTHSIDE REC

50,260

GENERATED REVENUE 15.3%

506,009

TOTAL REVENUE

$

Funding from Reserves 7.4% Seibel Funding Southside Rec 1.9%

27,010,626

Unique Student Users

REC SPORTS FEE REVENUE 75.4%

INDOOR RECREATION SPACE TOTAL EXPENSES

STUDENT REC CENTER

$27,010,626

507,620 SQ. FT.

POLO ROAD REC CENTER

28,000 SQ. FT.

SOUTHSIDE REC CENTER

63,620 SQ. FT.

PEAP

95,146 SQ. FT.

PROGRESS & PARTNERSHIPS • Over $5M in renovations to the Student Rec Center this past year

REC SPORTS REACH

• Six new staff members joined the department this summer

X followers

• In its second year, the Rec Sports Youth Camp grew from 118 participants in 2024 to 404 participants in 2025

7,542

LINKEDIN followers

1,800

▼ 1.7%

WEBSITE page views

1,040,165 22%

▲ 23%

▲

• During the 2024 - 2025 school year there were 1,795,018 visits to our facilities • 2026 marks the 100th year anniversary of Rec Sports

7,530

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS 1,056

68,425

Unique Outdoor Adventures Renters

Equipment Rentals

1,195,345 Strength & Conditioning Participations

404

Summer Camp Registrations

26 | Year in Numbers

FACEBOOK followers

14,414

Unique Intramural Participants

2,514 2,191

Aquatics Participants

111,220

324

Walk of Champions bricks sold

YOUTUBE Views

48,669

▼ 44%

540

Student Employees Certified in CPR, AED, & First Aid

Sport Club Participants

3,311

Rec-A-Palooza Attendees

Participants

Intramural Participations

▲ 8.9%

3,919

8,770 Unique FItness

Unique Climbing Pass Holders

Personal Training Sessions

116,012

INSTAGRAM followers

16,437

▲ 0.5%

358

Sport Club Trips

234

Student Organization Events Hosted

Su

Support Rec Sports

REC SPORTS

REUNION SAVE THE DATE

SCAN TO LEARN MORE

APRIL 10 - 11, 2026

SUPPORT REC SPORTS With an ever-growing student body comes a greater need for Rec Sports staff, services, and programs! Help make Rec Sports memorable for the next class of Aggies looking to build their résumé, dominate the intramural leagues, or embark on an outdoor trip with Outdoor Adventures.

To learn more about how you can build the next chapter of an Aggie’s life, contact Haylie Zavodny, hzavodny@tamu.edu.

Support Rec Sports | 27

Department of Recreational Sports Texas A&M University 4250 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-4250

NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID COLLEGE STATION PERMIT NO. 215

Rec Sports DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS