KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Feb. 2, 2021) – This Saturday night when the first official contest is played inside O'Hara Hall's Liebertz Gymnasium since the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy women's basketball team won its second-straight Skyline Conference Championship nearly 11 months ago, there will be a very noticeable difference to the game day experience at our historic academy. That's because we were able to upgrade our sound system to a brand new, state-of-the-art system over the winter break.
 
The new gym sound system was completely paid for by a donation to the Academy by the USMMA Alumni Association and Foundation (AAF).
 
To view a video with photos and a demonstration of the new sound system, click here.
 
"We are very pleased to see the much anticipated sound system upgrade in O'Hara Hall completed. This new system will improve the sporting and event experience at USMMA for years to come," said VADM Jack Buono, USMMA Superintendent. "We are also thankful for the continued support of the USMMA Alumni Association and Foundation, who provide direct support to our athletic teams, by upgrading deteriorating athletic facilities, and providing valuable quality of life support to the Regiment of Midshipmen. We count on their assistance, and we can't thank them enough."
 
The entire Academy community benefits from this upgrade. The Liebertz Gymnasium is a multi-use facility not just for the athletic teams, who use the gym for competitions and practices, but for the entire Regiment of Midshipmen as well as the Regimental Band, which performs numerous productions inside the gym, including the annual Beat Retreat.
 
"The Alumni Association and Foundation is pleased to provide the funding for this incredible new sound system in the Liebertz Gymnasium," commented Jim Tobin '77, President/CEO AAF. "The idea for the new sound system came during the most recent Beat Retreat performed by the Regimental Band. It is an inspiring performance, but there were parts of the show that could not be heard that well and that was not fair to the performers. That will never be an issue again. The fact that generations of USMMA student-athletes will also benefit from this upgrade just makes this gift even more valuable. It is only through the generosity of our donors that these enhancements are possible."
 
"I'm very grateful to the AAF and donors for funding the sound system upgrade project," said Director of Physical Education & Athletics Kristofer Schnatz. "Your generosity gives our student-athletes the best possible experience as they pursue excellence both on and off the court."
 
We here at the Academy and the AAF look forward to the day our fans, families and alumni can be back at O'Hara Hall to experience this great upgrade in person.
 
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