By: Arantxa Taberneiro
Sports Writer & Social Media Coordinator
At the McGee Center, where Campus Recreation aims to provide services to students, Wingate Students have the chance to borrow tennis racquets, enroll in free fitness classes and sports leagues and start training with personal trainers for a starting price of $12 for one session or 15 for starter pack or more throughout the academic year.
Even though the McGee Center records approximately 300 to 1,000 visits daily, it provides students with much more than traditional gym and fitness facilities. Students can take part in fitness classes, purchase personal training and join Intramural Sports. They can also spend time in the Lobby, which has a Nintendo Switch, shuffleboard and foosball.
All of these activities are included in student fees; access to the McGee Center, group fitness classes, and Intramural sports with the exception of personal training available for an additional cost.
The fitness classes scheduled at McGee in October include Pilates, cycle, barre, slow flow, active recovery, sculpted strength, barbell basics, Canine Conditioning and a run-and-walk club. Classes are scheduled from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., but the available times vary from day to day.
According to Carley Soules, Associate Director of Campus Recreation, Pilates and cycle were McGee’s most popular classes, with a combined participation count of 360 during the 2025-26 academic year.
Maegan Pironti, Assistant Director of Fitness and Wellness, said McGee Campus Rec programs attract consistent participants as well as students who want to try something new. She said students often return because of the community, the opportunity to exercise with friends and the feeling that they are improving.
“We want to make sure that Group Fitness classes are available for students during times they can attend, as well as having instructors being able to teach these classes,” Pironti said.
Pironti would like to promote McGee Campus Rec Programs more actively and reach students who do not regularly spend time near the McGee Center through tabling events and campus tabling, personal interactions, and student outreach.
Junior biology major Liliana Perez, who is on the pre-physician assistant track, attended Pilates and cycle classes, along with an early-morning yoga-style class. She frequently used the free-weight and cardio areas last semester but reduced her visits this semester because of studying and her busy schedule.
“I really liked the Pilates class,” Perez said.
Perez said she would like popular classes, particularly Pilates, to be available at more times. She also said other students enjoyed cycle, although she did not enjoy that particular class herself.
Students can access view personal training options through the Campus Recreation webpage. Students can purchase several packages of sessions including:
- 2 sessions for $30
- 5 sessions for $65
- 10 sessions for $110
- Buddy training costs
- $35 for 5 sessions
- $65 for 10 sessions
- $90 for 15 sessions
- $110 for 20 sessions
Student Starter pack is $15 for a consultation and 1 session, 1 session is $12 and the more sessions you purchase there is a discount off. Students must complete the required paperwork and pay in person at the McGee Center recreation front desk.
McGee also gives students the opportunity to borrow recreational equipment at no charge. Available equipment includes; racquets
and balls for tennis, racquetball, pickleball, and ping pong; basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, wallyballs and volleyballs; disc golf sets; and fitness accessories such as resistance bands, stretch bands and foam rollers.
Students only need to present their Wingate ID at the recreation desk to borrow the equipment. Indoor equipment must be returned by closing time on the same day, while outdoor equipment is due by closing time the following day.
Another free alternative is available through intramural sports. Students can participate in activities such as flag football, basketball, volleyball, soccer and pickleball. Unlike Wingate’s varsity teams, intramural sports students, faculty and staff to get together and compete recreationally.
DeAsia Savoy, a freshman biology major, uses McGee in a different way. She has participated in color guard for the past five years and uses the racquetball courts to practice with her flag. She also attends Pilates on Wednesdays.
Savoy said McGee can sometimes become crowded, but it does not usually stop her from going. If she could change one thing, she would increase the number of racquetball courts from two to four.
Her comment reflects McGee’s data showing when the center is busiest. During the 2025-26 academic year, McGee recorded 21,459 site visits on Wednesdays, including approximately 9,000 between 3 and 7 p.m. Those figures represent visits, not individual students.
Campus Recreation recently launched FusionGo to help students access information about the center. The app can serve as a digital barcode for entry, show space availability and inform students about upcoming programs and events.
According to Soules, McGee Campus Rec uses attendance statistics, surveys and student feedback to make decisions about future classes, equipment and facility improvements.
“We want our students to feel that they have a voice in the direction of Campus Recreation,” Soules said. “Those responses help us identify opportunities and make decisions based on what our students are actually looking for.”
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