Awe inspiring: center opens to rave reviews

For a number of years, a devoted group of Sweetwater County School District No. 2 board members, administrators, students, coaches and other community members worked hard and put in many hours of blood, sweat, and tears with the hopes of getting a new swimming pool at Green River High School.

Last Thursday was a magical night for all those who put in all the countless hours as they were all able to celebrate the ribbon cutting for the new aquatic center.

Just moments before the ceremony started, current board member Anne Rudoff and former member Joe Henderson both smiled as a huge crowd began to filter into building, with both saying it's like a dream come true to finally see the center and all the cards coming together to make it happen.

Board of Trustees President Steve Core said that they originally went to the voters with the pool as part of the current high school, but they were turned down.

He said when they built the high school, they set up the plumbing and electrical for the pool because they knew at some point they would need it.

He said after forming a political action committee, many people went door to door and the community eventually approved the pool by a two-to-one margin. The state-of-the-art center was funded with around $11 million from a 2012 bond measure.

Core said they treated center with care and it is something the community can be proud of.

Moments after the ribbon cutting, Core was taking a closer look at the new center and had a huge smile on his face.

"This is exciting," he said. "I love it."

The state-of-the-art center was funded with around $11 million from a 2012 bond measure.

Sweetwater County School District No. 2 Superintendent addressed the crowd soon after the ribbon cutting in a very unique way.

As the large crowd went to sit in the upstairs mezzanine, Little-Kaumo got into the water with a special microphone and talked about some of the features at the aquatic center. Those features include a competition pool, therapy pool, diving pool, video displays and scoreboards.

District Activities Director Tom Wilson also had a huge smile on his face as he examined the impressive center.

"This is amazing," he said.

GRHS swimming coach Colleen Seiloff said it is so awesome to finally have it here. Both Wilson and Seiloff said they wished the team could have swam in the pool Oct. 8, but they are looking forward to hosting a meet Oct. 23.

One of those who will be competing at the meet will be GRHS senior Emily Allen.

She said it's so exciting to finally have the new center and the old pool had a lot of problems and their were often times they could not swim in it.

"Now we have one of the best pools in the state," Allen said.

Because the first and only girl's meet this season will be on senior night, Allen said competing in the pool for the first time will be so exciting, but will also bring a lot of emotions.

 

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