A Legacy Renewed

The splashes of swimmers and water polo players have been replaced by the flurry of cleats and the whizz of a fastball. The familiar Rogers name still hangs on the wall, but inside, the space has been completely reimagined. The former Rogers Natatorium has been transformed into the Ralph B. Rogers Family Fieldhouse, a dynamic, multi-sport facility designed for today’s Marksmen and the future of the athletic and physical education programs.

For decades, the Rogers Natatorium was home to countless aquatics practices, meets, and memories. Generations of Marksmen learned lessons in discipline and perseverance within its walls. When there was an opportunity to reimagine the space, the Rogers family, spanning many decades of connection to St. Mark’s, generously stepped forward to ensure that the name would remain. The new fieldhouse honors the Rogers family’s enduring support and the legacy they helped create, while meeting the evolving needs of today’s student-athletes. Supporting this transformation is both personal and generational for the family. As Jamie Rogers ’85, immediate past President of the Alumni Board and Trustee, shared, “Our connection to St. Mark’s goes back nearly 75 years and three generations. We are thrilled to be able to help support the creation of the Rogers Family Fieldhouse — which will positively impact the lives of many Marksmen for years to come!”  

Ralph B. Rogers was the third Board President of the newly formed St. Mark’s School of Texas from 1960 to 1964, following Eugene McDermott and Morris G. Spencer. Fiscal responsibility and discipline, careful stewardship of the physical plant, good governance, and an unwavering commitment to excellence are just some of the enduring lessons imparted by Ralph B. Rogers. The impact of his legacy and leadership on the life of the School and generations of students is impossible to quantify and important to celebrate. 

Planning for the renovation began with a clear vision: to preserve the spirit of the original facility while creating a versatile, forward-looking training environment. The natatorium’s footprint was completely repurposed, with the pool replaced by a turf-covered indoor field that allows teams to practice year-round, regardless of weather. 

“This project marks another exciting phase in the ongoing improvements to our athletic facilities after the completion of the Zierk Athletic Center and the Albert G. Hill, Sr. Family Tennis Center,” said Director of Athletics Sean Lissemore. “The Rogers Family Fieldhouse and refreshed Winn Wrestling Center further demonstrate St. Mark’s commitment to excellence in athletics and offer our student-athletes a state-of-the-art indoor field turf facility for practices and training sessions. These spaces are an amazing complement to the exceptional facilities we already have on campus.” 

Varsity Football Head Coach Harry Flaherty believes the new Rogers Family Fieldhouse represents both innovation and intention. “Having an indoor turf space enhances our ability to adapt to weather and to avoid conflicts with other St. Mark’s sports competing for field space,” he said. “In Texas especially, we deal with heat regulations during training camp and thunderstorms throughout the year. Being able to step inside while still having a surface where we can train and drill is a great opportunity for us.” 

Flaherty noted that the indoor field transforms how players can focus on strategy. “Football involves lots of walk-throughs or run-throughs where you’re focusing on assignments and the mental part of the game,” he said. “When you can do those on a football space rather than in a classroom or sharing a gym floor, it helps players lock in and get valuable reps.” 

Strength and Conditioning Coach Kevin Dilworth says the impact of the new Rogers Family Fieldhouse is already clear. “The expanded space allows us to train multiple teams simultaneously without compromising the quality or focus of each session.” With new zones for speed, agility, plyometrics, and movement work, he notes that the environment itself has elevated training culture: “Athletes feed off each other’s energy across different sports, creating a training atmosphere that pushes everyone to compete at a higher level daily.” The space also supports expanded testing: “With the additional space, we’ve implemented more comprehensive performance testing protocols… giving us real-time feedback on each athlete’s development and helping us make more precise training adjustments.” Looking ahead, Dilworth’s goals are ambitious: “My vision is to continue building a program where every Marksmen athlete… develops not just physical strength but mental resilience and championship habits… Long-term, I want St. Mark’s to be known for producing athletes who are not only physically prepared but who understand the process of excellence — lessons they’ll carry far beyond their playing days.”

Varsity Baseball Coach and Physical Education Teacher Dennis Kelly praised the facility’s advanced features. “The baseball-specific equipment at the new facility is world class,” he said. “Not only is it functional and versatile, it’s beautiful. We have a new Hack Attack pitching machine that allows us to work on velocity up to 100 mph and throw different pitches — curveballs, sliders, and more. Two batting cages descend mechanically from the ceiling, and protective curtains create safe, contained practice zones. Beyond baseball, the Rogers Family Fieldhouse provides room for speed, agility, and athletic development that benefits every Marksmen program.” 

 
When asked what makes him most proud about the new space, Lissemore reflected on the journey from recovery to renewal. “When I walk through the doors of the new Rogers Family Fieldhouse, I feel a tremendous sense of gratitude and pride about the meaningful upgrades we’ve made,” he said. “Especially after the tornado, when we had limited facilities and teams were forced to share indoor spaces, it’s exciting to envision the impact this fieldhouse will have on our student-athletes for years to come. They’ll learn lessons of teamwork, perseverance, work ethic, and commitment in this space — and that’s what truly matters.” 

The Rogers Family Fieldhouse is more than a state-of-the-art training space, it is a classroom for character. Inside these walls, students learn lessons of perseverance, humility, and leadership that extend far beyond competition. As the sounds of practice fill the new fieldhouse and wrestling center, echoes of the old natatorium and wrestling gym linger, a reminder that while spaces may change, the lessons they hold endure. From the first pitch to the first takedown, the Rogers name continues to stand for dedication, teamwork, and the pursuit of excellence.