The collaboration of many local residents, the city and the school district resulted in the collection of $1 million and the opening of the pool on June 26, 2002. But the Fremont swim team has been using Homestead High School's portable timing/scoring system while Homestead's pool is under construction. By fall Homestead's construction will be complete, and Fremont will have to provide its own scoring system in order to host swim meets and water polo games.

"We really need the electronic system. We can't exactly host games with parents using stopwatches," said Linda Kilian, whose son Marc Boyer plays on Fremont's men's swim and water polo teams.

The cost of a timing/scoring system and touch pads for use during aquatics meets is $18,000.

The coaches, students and parents are taking it upon themselves to raise money for the system. They already have $10,000, in part because this year's graduating class donated $2,500 as a gift. However, organizers need to raise the rest very soon. They can order the equipment in mid-July but to get the school district to cut a check, the money needs to be in by the end of June.

"We want to host tournaments so we can become self-supporting. At tournaments we can charge small entrance fees to raise money for our teams," said Kilian. Tournament revenues pay for the cost of things like suits, goggles and balls, she said.

Students are organizing car washes and helping the coaches and parents send letters to parents and local businesses.

Students don't have to pay a mandatory fee to play sports at Fremont, but each sport comes with its own costs. "Swimming is an expensive sport," said Kilian. "Each student has to buy their own suits. This year we're asking kids to buy water polo balls to practice with at home."

Students should be able to play a sport even if they can't afford it, Kilian said. "If we can raise funds by hosting our own tournaments, we could provide those activities for the kids that need them," Kilian said.

The future scoring system will be named the John Schmidt Roger Edwards Memorial Scoreboard, in memory of two former Fremont High water polo coaches who taught in the late 1960s and 1970s and who recently died. During those years, Fremont High's water polo team was one of the best in the country. Several of the teams' alumni tried out for the Olympics.

"Our kids are determined to bring their teams up and make them world class again. They want to be something that the community can be proud of," Kilian said.

For more information call Linda Kilian at 408.733.0351. To contribute a tax-deductible donation, make checks out to Fremont High School Water Polo and send to 556 Dawn Drive, Sunnyvale, CA 94087-1838.