UISD officially unveils its new Aquatic Center
In a grand ceremony Friday, United ISD presented its new international grade Aquatic Center with distinguished guests and their current champions.
Rep. Henry Cuellar, UISD Superintendent David Gonzalez, Laredo College President Lupita Zepeda and more prestigious guests joined the district to finally cut the ribbon for the facility four years in the works.
The Aquatic Center serves the swimming & diving teams of Alexander, Lyndon B. Johnson, United, United South High Schools, as well as many other swimming programs.
The overall plan for the Aquatic Center has been in the works for 10 years, according to UISD Aquatics Coordinator Sam Fruia who has been part of the design crew for the center for the last six years.
“This creates a pathway for the high schools to expand their aquatics program to include swimming & diving and hopefully in the future water polo, which would be a first to Laredo,” Fruia said. “One of the most important pathways is to create the Fundamental Swimming Program, keyed to our second graders. What that will do is make those kids water safe and water aware.”
UISD has a district-wide initiative for all second graders, which has now serviced 1,200. The district is preparing to work with Adaptive Aquatics which would bring an additional 300 kids to the program. Next year, the aquatics program will start servicing Zaffirini Elementary, and by the end of May the Fundamental Swimming Program will have serviced 3,500 second graders in the district.
Coming up in the Aquatic Center is the Summer Camp Program for sixth graders through high schoolers to teach them on what it means to be on a swim team. The summer camp is also a great opportunity for coaches to identify potential candidates for their swimming teams. The summer programs start the first week of June and last throughout July. The program has eight summer sessions each lasting two weeks long.
“This opens a lot of opportunities,” LBJ coach Maria Rodriguez said. “The technology that went into this facility makes it to where we can host international competitions. It also opens up a lot of business and opportunities not only for Laredo but for all of the Rio Grande Valley and Texas.”
Rodriguez invites parents to bring their children to the swimming & diving teams.
“Swimming is not just a sport, it’s a life skill,” she said. “By the time our swimmers graduate, we train them in life guarding, so it’s something that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.”
LBJ is planning to open up its diving team for the next season, with already one diver training and looking to recruit more.
Fruia also announced they are looking for people to join their team, as they will be targeting third, fourth and fifth graders for their Learn to Swim Program, sponsored by Swim America and the American Red Cross.
Previous to the Aquatic Center opening, UISD swimming teams trained at the facility next to their Administration Building and the Laredo College pool.