More than a Gym: Sports complex offers inclusive community

On an average night, Loyola’s sports complex is busy with students, athletes, and community members. Hear from USC regulars on how they use the space.

Sophia Maxim, Managing Editor for Print

March 10, 2024

Delgado Community College student Danion Little shoots hoops on the basketball court on March 6, 2024. Little said he comes to the sports complex to play basketball with Loyola students.
“The basketball players here, they’re nice,” he said. “We just come and ball with them. They’re really competitive, and it’s a good school to ball at, nice gym,” Little said. (Sophia Maxim)

Herbert Kiff stretches on the railing, his “unofficial ballerina bar” on March 6, 2024. Kiff comes to the sports complex about 4 times a week.
“[The space] means a lot” he said. “It’s neat, it’s clean, they do a good job with it. I come here to weight-lift. I do my exercises, and I do cardiovascular and stretching and everything else.” (Sophia Maxim)

Ricardo Blondet-Otero, business management junior, deadlifts in the weight room with his friends flexing behind him on March 6, 2024.
“Really to me it feels kind of like a second home,” he said. “I usually come here every single day. The USC has really provided a space for me to feel safe and included with a great community of lifters.” (Sophia Maxim)

Jaslin Mestas, sociology sophomore, and Josiah Day, music industry sophomore, exercise in the yoga room on March 6, 2024.
“It’s nice having something so close that I can always go to and stay consistent,” Day said. (Sophia Maxim)

Thomasita Gilbert, theatre arts major and sports complex employee, passes a volleyball with a friend on March 6, 2024. Gilbert said she works out there every day. “I feel like for people it’s a place to hang out and work towards something,” she said. “If I’m having a bad day I like to come to the gym – makes my day a thousand times better.”

A community member swims laps in the sports complex pool on March 6, 2024. (Sophia Maxim)

Bria McClure, sociology junior, poses on the basketball court on March 6, 2024, where she practices with her basketball team.
“Playing at home is such a good advantage, and it’s so nice to see people that you go to school with and people know at the games,” she said. “The sports complex means a lot to me because we just won a championship and winning a championship starts at practice.” (Sophia Maxim)

Natasha Calixte, forensic chemistry major, uses a workout machine on March 6, 2024. Calixte is a dancer on Loyola’s Flawless Golden Wolves majorette team. The team works out and practices in the gym, she said. (Sophia Maxim)

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About the Contributor

Sophia Maxim

Sophia Maxim, Managing Editor for Print

Sophia Maxim is a multimedia journalist and designer from Atlanta, GA. She is The Maroon’s Managing Editor for Print and previously served as Design Chief. She is a visual communication sophomore with a design minor. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the city, listening to podcasts, and collaborating on creative projects. Sophia can be reached at [email protected].

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Nancy Maguire-Rambo • Mar 11, 2024 at 2:23 pm

Here is a nice shot of my yoga class for future use. Aren’t they just beautiful?
Nancy Maguire Rambo (Yoga instructor)
It wouldn’t let me paste the picture!

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