The Rock Island Boy’s Swim Team has been faced with the challenge of swimming without a home pool for about four years, with minimal progress made to resolve the issue. Many argue that there is no point in creating a new swimming pool, due to the lack of swimmers on both the girls’ and boys’ teams. However, others question if the absence of a pool is what is causing the lack of swimmers. Member of the Boys’ Swim Team, Nathan Anderson, states, “Without a pool, we don’t have a feeder program for swimming, and most people don’t want to go to Augustana late at night, unless they are serious about swimming.”
Not only is the team’s absence of a pool affecting the swimmers, but also the coaches. Head Coach Rebecca Brown states, “My family were all swimmers, and this is my home team. It saddens me to hear that someone would swim, but they need to work or it is hard to go home, and then back out. It is hard on me being at the pool until 9:30pm, and not getting home until after 10, to turn around and teach all day at the junior high. I am tired, but my love of the sport and seeing their love for the sport keeps me going.”
The team not having a pool is a sad reality for anyone involved in the swimming program. Yet, this does not deter the team from having fun together, and participating in as much team bonding as possible. Anderson states, “We have ‘fish feeds,’ where we eat at restaurants or on the pool deck, usually the day before a meet.” Even without a pool to call home, the team is still a team.
The swimmers and coaches hope to have the pool plan set and stone soon. Coach Brown states, “Having a pool does not have to be just for competitive athletics. We can build it back into the high school curriculum.- provide swim lessons, train lifeguards, water safety education, provide jobs for high school students. Not only will it create a space for Rock Island students of all ages to participate in a sport, it can also benefit the community in Rock Island.” Having a pool will not only benefit the swimmers, but also the whole student body.
Although the Rock Island Boys’ Swim Team were let down by not having a home pool this year, the team remains positive, serving as an inspiration to everyone!
