Wednesday, a crowd of nearly 1,200 students, parents, former players and contributors let out a collective “Wow!” as the school on 33rd Street and Nutmeg unveiled its new $26.2 million Rev. John R. Sanders Gymnasium and St. Augustine Commons.

The sparkling facility replaces 600-seat Dougherty Gym, a building that opened in 1951 and was straight out of the movie “Hoosiers.”

“We now have a stunning, world-class facility,” said Ed Hearn, president at St. Augustine. “This all came about through a lot of prayer, generosity and hard work.

“It’s a community effort of mass proportion. This ensures the 95-year legacy of St. Augustine High.”

School officials stressed that no money from the Diocese of San Diego was used in the project. About $12.5 million of the total was fundraised.

The gym floor will be named “Court 64” as a tribute to the Class of 1964, which played a major part in the fundraising.

Some of the money will be paid back over time on a low-interest loan.

And, school officials stressed, there will not be a hike in tuition.

The new facility, which was built on the site of an old field, includes a 1,500-seat gym with standing room for another 500.

There are three full basketball courts on the roof, which will be used for PE and intramurals as well as summer camps and youth events.

Graduation will no longer be held downtown at Golden Hall. The new facility is large enough to hold graduates and their guests.

There are locker rooms for all varsity sports, a massive training room and coaches offices.

“This is a game changer,” Saints basketball coach Mike Haupt said of the new building. “No longer will we have to find a place to play big games.

“We won’t have to play Cathedral Catholic at Point Loma Nazarene. We can now practice and play in the same facility.”

Over the years, as Haupt’s program has taken its place among the best in the state, the Saints generally only played league games in old Dougherty Gym.

“My class never lost a game in that gym,” said senior basketball player Otto Taylor. “And the class before us didn’t lose a game.

“It was a tremendous home-court advantage.

“I won’t get to play in the new place, but I’m happy to see it. The school and the kids who go here deserve this.”

Dougherty Gym will be turned into a performing arts building with part of the old gym floor being incorporated into the construction.

That prompted the Very Rev. Kevin Mullins, who presided over the dedication Mass, to say, “Saints will always be a construction site.”

“The new facility is far more than a building,” he said. “It’s a sacred place, a gathering place. It’s a center for school activities.”

Junior basketball player Taeshon Cherry, the San Diego Section Player of the Year, called the new gym “crazy.”

“The old gym was something special,” Cherry said. “But the new gym is a blessing.

“We haven’t been able to get in and play on it yet, but it looks amazing.

“I’m so happy next year’s team gets to open it. And I’m happy for the players that follow us.”

The St. Augustine administration didn’t forget the fans when Sanders Gym was built.

The Saints support their teams like no other in the county. They call the cheering section for basketball games “The Pit” and there is a special 500-seat section located under the east basket just for the students.

The home side of the gym extends baseline to baseline and rises 12 rows. The visitor’s side rises six rows.

Haupt and Athletic Director Mike Stephenson already have a plan for the home opener.

The first game in Dougherty Gym was Dec. 3, 1951, against Grossmont.

Stephenson and Haupt said they will contact Grossmont about opening Sanders Gym.

Haupt also would like to host a tournament in the new facility.

“We need to show this place off and what better way to do that than with a first-class tournament,” Haupt said. “We’re a Nike school, so maybe I’ll call on them to help us line up some great teams to play in this great facility.”

BY JOHN MAFFEI

john.maffei@sduniontribune.com