Mercy High School student-athletes are preparing to practice and compete on their own campus for the first time in the school’s more than 90-year history as the new Athletic and Student Life Center nears opening.

The school's athletics department announced the milestone Tuesday, calling it "a new era" as fall sports tryouts are already underway on Adeline Drive.

"For the first time, our athletes will have a home of their own — a place to practice, compete, gather, and make memories," the department wrote in its inaugural "Bear Necessities" newsletter. "I am thrilled to have the opportunity to usher in this new era alongside all of you."

Until now, Mercy's Bears had no gym. Athletes at the all-girls school traveled up to 20 miles for practices and games, borrowing courts and pools from other schools. That changes with a $27 million facility featuring a regulation-sized gymnasium with seating for 500, a strength and conditioning room, team rooms, athletic staff and trainer offices, a snack bar and an expanded regulation-size pool for swim and water polo.

The project, funded through Mercy's "Building the Dream" capital campaign, broke ground on Aug. 14, 2025. Head of school Natalie Cirigliano Brosnan said at that ceremony that the center represents "a moment to celebrate equitable opportunities for the young women of Mercy."

The campaign had raised $24.5 million as of its most recent update, after an anonymous $1 million gift unlocked a $2 million match. The school's homepage now advertises a ribbon-cutting ceremony, though a specific date has not been announced.

Mercy fields 15 sports and 24 teams, with about 70% of its roughly 365 students participating in at least one sport. Fall tryouts began in mid-August, and the Cheer and Dance squads already performed at a Welcome Rally on the school lawn before classes started.

The Bears also plan to launch an inaugural girls wrestling program this winter, competing in the West Catholic Athletic League alongside Tri-School partners Serra and Notre Dame Belmont.

Mercy, which regularly faces crosstown rival Burlingame High in the "Battle of Burlingame," has not yet released its fall competition schedule.