September 2, 2005

Presentation pleases with new pool

On Aug.19 Presentation High School completed a dream. It opened a new swimming pool.

For 43 years, the school had been anticipating new building projects, planning, fund-raising and building each of them, one by one. The master plan included a new classroom building, a theater, an athletic field and an aquatic center.

Mayor Ron Gonzales and District 6 City Councilmember Ken Yeager present Presentation Principal Mary Miller the commendation in front of the City Council.

With the completion of the aquatic center this past August, the last piece in the plan is complete and all nine and one-half acres of the original land are now built out. The new swimming pool will be taking advantage of state-of-the-art “cogeneration” technology and will operate at a global efficiency as high as 85 percent compared to conventional efficiencies. But, more important to the students was that they now have a safe environment where they can discover their potential.

During the early years, a small group of students began the swim program. The program has now grown to just over 100, or one-sixth of the student body. They had their practices and meets offsite at a facility they shared with two other schools, at whatever hour was open to them.

Former student and now varsity swim coach, Marissa Watts Cozort, reflects on the fact that “the students no longer have to go to the water because we’ve brought it to them. Now, the girls who have never had the chance to be part of a team, because of the logistics with driving and parent’s work schedules, CAN be on the team.

“The coaching staff has so much knowledge and respect for this sport. We hope to share it with as many Presentation students as possible! We can also expand our program and share our swim team philosophy with prospective students through our summer camp programs. It’s the perfect place to reach out to those within the future Presentation family. By building the aquatics center, the school has shown its dedication to the sports of swimming, diving and water polo. This will be a huge draw for the future of Presentation athletics,” Cozort said.

Varsity water polo Coach Tim Outtrim echoed Watts, “Just to have the pool means we can accommodate more athletes and offer better practice times and no one will have to drive all over the valley. These young women waited a long time for it and it’s well deserved.”

On Friday the school celebrated with the faculty and students. Principal Mary Miller called it a “birthday party for 800.”

At the end of the school day they had one big pool party. Donning inner tubes, inflatable animals and rafts, the students were treated to lunch, games and fun, in the pool and out. And on Sunday the celebration of thanks to those who believed in the project took place, from Councilmember Ken Yeager to a group of Sisters of the Presentation whose order started the school in 1962, to the parents, alumnae and friends.

On Aug. 30, the City Council, Mayor Ron Gonzales and Yeager presented a commendation to Presentation in recognition of the school’s outstanding commitment to women’s education and athletics, through the construction and dedication of their new aquatic facility, as well as the new sports field on campus.

After years of ideas and plans the project is finally completed, Development Director Donna Delaney summed up, “There’s no greater satisfaction than to see the fulfillment of a dream launched in 1999. First there was the theater and then the playing fields and finally the Aquatic Center. For the last six years we’ve been working towards the completion of our campus. The reality is more beautiful than the dream ever was!”