Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the Beckerman Athletic Center

“It took a little longer than you probably expected, but I hope you like the results,” Head of School Bob Izzo said to the center’s namesake, David Beckerman, just minutes before David was tossed the ball by a relay of passes from the four co-captains of the girls’ and boys’ varsity basketball teams.

It took David, affectionately known as Coach B., only one shot to elicit cheers from the crowd of students, faculty, staff, and trustees in what will go down as the scoring of the first point at the facility.

Alumnus John Cunneen 1991 advised students to look around and take it all in. “You guys are pretty lucky,” he said. “Today we witness history. You’ll be able to tell your kids that you were here when it opened.”

Among the luckiest were third-grader Maria Mack, seventh-grader Matthew Peel, and ninth-grader Augustine Torello, all of whom were given gold-handled scissors to help cut the ceremonial ribbon. Their names were drawn from among the entire student body to take part in the ribbon-cutting along with David and Ruthann Beckerman, Board President Joyce Lujic and Head of School Bob Izzo.

The 65,000-square-foot facility features a gymnasium with three collegiate- length basketball courts, an elevated jogging track, and a batting cage. The main court is a classic wood court with seating for 450 spectators while the floors for the second and third courts are composite. The center also houses a six-lane, 25-yard competition swimming pool with seating for over 200 spectators; a large fitness center; a multi-purpose student center; an aerobics room; locker rooms; team rooms, a study room, and a student lounge.