Saint Mary’s College (Calif.) this week announced that it will be expanding its varsity athletics offerings to include men’s and women’s water polo and swimming. The addition of the four new teams has prompted the construction of a $15-20 million aquatics facility on the campus.
This expansion — a markedly different approach than most neighboring colleges and universities that are cutting non-revenue sports — has already prompted 90 questionnaire submissions from students and future students interested in the team.
“The one thing we have found beyond water polo and swimming is how many athletic departments are cutting back in terms of roster sizes and teams,” vice president of intercollegiate athletics Michael Matoso told Swimming World. “We have been talking with schools like USC and Cal who have to cut around six players this year. This allows us to provide an opportunity for people to come in and play and participate at a really high level.”
The facility will include a 50-meter pool and seating for 1,600 spectators, plus locker rooms and other team spaces.
The addition of this facility to the Bay Area will not only give college student-athletes more options, but Matoso said it will also benefit the local community, where swim clubs struggle to find space and time in crowded aquatics facilities.
“The idea is to really be done with the facility at 4:30 and turning it over to the local club teams,” Matoso said. “We want them to be involved and to have them use the pool.”
Swimming will begin competing in the 2026-27 school year as a part of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. Women’s water polo will kick off in the spring of 2027 and compete in the Golden Coast Conference; meanwhile, men’s water polo will begin its season in the fall of 2026, competing in the West Coast Conference. Coaching staff for all four teams is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
“It’s cool we are adding these four sports and impacting the lives of 100 people who might not have the opportunity to play,” Matoso said.
