Photograph by Kathy De La Torre
Sarah Nakaji, 16, and Lauren Van Hoesen, 16, hand out water polo caps for an exhibition game their team played against the boys varsity water polo team in the new swimming pool. The girls team won 12-8.
YouthTalk
It's time to compete
By Joanna Chan and Laura Lin
Upon the completion of Saratoga High school's new Olympic-sized pool, the community has not hesitated to reap its benefits. The pool will not only be used by Saratoga High's own swimmers throughout the school year, it will be used by the community, as well. In fact, outside swimming teams now are swimming in the new pool.
Of the outside swim teams, the West Valley Swim Club has already taken advantage of the new pool for almost a month now. The swimmers swim daily in the afternoons for one to one-and-a-half hours, depending on the age group.
It's been a dream," said parent Kathy Nolet, mother of two swimmers.
"There is more space for the kids so it's easier on the coaches."
Aside from the pool's close proximity, parents appreciate the more convenient parking. Not only are there more available spaces, but also no parking fee is required, unlike the parking situation at West Valley College.
Because of these benefits, the team looks forward to swimming at Saratoga High year-round in the late afternoons and evenings. There will also be other groups, including age-group swimming, age-group water polo and master swimming.
Saratoga High swimmers and water polo players believe that the new pool will help bring a more successful season. The larger facility makes training for the aquatic athletes more efficient.
"The new pool is so much better," said junior water polo player Brittney Smith. "There's much more deck space, and there's enough room for everyone. We can scrimmage more and divide into three courses instead of just one."
"With more lanes available, it won't be as crowded," said senior swimmer Jenny Teng. "Swimmers will be able to divide into more lanes, so we won't crash into each other."
The old pool limited the number of home meets, which is a disadvantage
for Saratoga teams. However, the larger pool allows the high school to host more swim meets and water polo tournaments.
"With the old pool, we had very little room to warm-up and cool-down, because the pool had to be shared with the other teams," Teng said. "With the new pool, there will be plenty of space for both teams."
Saratoga High's coaches are also enthusiastic about the new pool. Doug Jones, the girls' varsity swimming and water polo coach, will begin his fifth year at Saratoga.
"They're training in a world-class facility," Jones said. "It is a psychological motivator. We now have the space and potential to try a lot of different techniques that we haven't been able to do in the past. There are more training options and we can divide swimmers up into smaller groups suitable to their levels." The athletes are training in a facility "comparable to one in which they're competing," he said.
Saratoga swimmers also said that the new pool proves to be an integral motivational factor. "It makes you want to swim more," said sophomore swimmer Sarah Yoo.
Saratoga Assistant Principal Karen Hyde said that Saratoga was losing athletes to other schools that have Olympic-size pools, such as Mitty, St. Francis and Valley Christian. The previous swimming pool was too shallow, and therefore unsafe, and the diving well, also built in 1959, was outdated.
"We wanted to build an aquatics program with our kids in mind first and then the community," Hyde said. "[The new pool] is a healthy environment and it is something classy. I always believed that, if you build this kind of pool, the swimmers will come."
The pool's grand opening celebration took place on Aug. 27. Food was for sale to support the water polo teams. In addition, music, soft drinks and entertainment were provided. Those attending were encouraged to bring swim suits and towels! A good, wet time was had by all.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
