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McCarthy Gym reopened Monday morning after being closed for renovation since last spring. St. Thomas faculty and students can now take advantage of updated cardio, weight and locker areas on South Campus.

The pool on the south end of the facility was replaced by a second gym area featuring wood floors for basketball, volleyball and other activities. The new space was installed partly to replace the well-used gym in O’Shaughnessy Hall where the new Anderson Athletic and Recreation Complex now stands.

Junior Sam Skemp says he’ll have no problem taking advantage of the new space. Though he mainly uses the weight room in the Anderson Complex, he needs more space to play ball.

“I’ll come down here a lot more to play basketball because the gym in the Anderson Complex is always full now,” Skemp said.

Though he hasn’t heard a lot of talk about its opening, Skemp said the updated gym will benefit students such as him.

McCarthy is free for St. Thomas students, staff and faculty to use, but a valid St. Thomas ID is required. Gym hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays.

Tommy Ellis can be reached at twellis@stthomas.edu.