Public high schools in Bakersfield have never had a pool on campus.
Sure, they've used city pools for years, but when budget cuts forced them to close, the swimmers got a little closer.
It's to the point now, where five schools use one facility, staggering their start times, bussing kids at odd hours just to get in some 'lane' time.
But that can mean larger teams swim 10-12 kids in one lane.
The Kern High School District took the first 'stroke' towards a solution by including a pair of proposed swimming pools on a bond resolution for the Nov. ballot.
Two Olympic size pools!!
Where will they go, who will use it, etc, etc... all questions for another time.
Here's the statement from the KHSD on Monday: "The Kern High School District Board of Trustees directed staff to include two pools on the project list as part of the bond resolution the KHSD Board of Trustees will consider at the June 27th Board meeting. If approved, the bond measure will be placed on the Nov. 8th, 2016 ballot for voter consideration. The measure would need to be approved by 55% of the voters to provide bond authorization to the KHSD. If passed, construction of the pools would begin at a date yet to be determined by the district." - Lisa Krch, KHSD Public Information Officer
Take into consideration the following, the 2016 CIF Central Section Swim Championships for Division 1 took place at the Clovis Olympic Complex at Clovis West High School.
There were 14 teams in D-1 with swimmers vying for one of 256 spots in the individual events for the Championship and Consolation Finals.
Bakersfield had five of those teams, so in a perfect world, with a level playing field, local swimmers could expect to wrap up more than 1/3rd of those spots.
They grabbed a total of 42...
And, 14 swimmers qualified in 2 events each, leaving 14 soloists to swim on Day 2.
Despite that, two swimmers placed high enough to earn a spot in the State Championships, with another swimmer and one relay team earning a consideration spot.
The new pools can't open soon enough...
**The video is highlights from the Valley Championships and State Swim meet (I tried to shoot as many of the 28 swimmers and relays as possible**
