The construction of a pool in Sonoma is long overdue. Sonoma was once the home of a proud swim tradition, boasting All-American individual and relay teams while providing a platform for high schoolers to take their talents to four-year collegiate programs. This was accomplished in an inadequate “shallow-deep” pool.
Although the below-standard quality of the SVHS pool causes romantic flashbacks, and John Wooden has proved you can win in outdated facilities, Sonoma cannot afford to swing and miss on a new-age aquatic facility.
The construction of the Sonoma Splash pool needed to begin yesterday and needs to emulate the pools in rival towns. Pools in Marin are designed to accomplish the top priority of being a place for pay-per-session open lap swimming, while also taking into account the need to accommodate other programs, such as club swim practice, club water polo and lifeguard training. An “if you build it, they will come” mentality needs to be adopted by the residents of the Valley. If there is a quality public pool, interest in aquatic programs will surge, leading to a more physically fit Sonoma that will, perhaps, provide a contradiction to the moniker “Slownoma.” Call me old fashioned, but swimming is fun, people.
Does anybody also know that water polo is trying to make a comeback in the Valley? Probably not, because it’s being done at a facility not designed for the Olympic sport. SRJC All-American Flynn O’Brien, now SVHS water polo coach, is an asset this Valley should be leveraging. Now Justin Siena Coach and SVHS Alum from 2010, Joey Gullikson, helped turn UOP into a national powerhouse, played for Team USA at the Maccabi Games and played professionally in Australia.
I also have reaped the benefits of being a water polo player, both in college and after school. Want another name drop? A Mulas played water polo in college. A Mulas, ladies and gentleman! The graduate track record of the SVHS water polo and swim programs can be considered a leader for the High School. Those sports are additional talking points for kids considering college in their future, and some people may think it’s unfair, but when comparing similar academically-regarded students, the one who wants to be a member of a college team is going to get the acceptance nod.
Also, the professional and social network swimmers and water polo players automatically associate themselves with are invaluable, and Sonoma needs to provide this kind of opportunity for its youth.
Sonoma will never be on the same level of the marine communities of Newport Beach or Santa Barbara, but there is potential to have similarities with them. Towns in Southern California have Junior Lifeguard programs that not only give kids something to do in the summertime (while providing education in life-saving skills) but they also provide jobs. A full-fledged lifeguard team in Sonoma is never going to happen, but what if some kids fall in love with the life-saving career opportunity and become the next David Hasselhoff in Malibu? It sounds fair to me. Did I say opportunity again? Oops.
What about the people who don’t have an affinity for getting barreled in some 80-degree water? Well, I propose that the construction of the Sonoma Splash pool takes these people into consideration, and that a small grandstand be included. Seats around the pool perimeter make for a more intimate environment, and if there are bleachers Sonoma can be the host of money-generating events such as regional swim meets, water polo tournaments and fundraisers.
If the pool is constructed, I will get the U.S. National Team or Olympic Club teams to play in a showcase/ribbon cutting ceremony kind of celebration. Or, maybe local winemakers could use the pool for a Delta Gamma Anchorsplash Sorority-type funfest that brings the community together, raises a couple bucks and provides entertainment for Sonoma, a town that used to have a stellar aquatic reputation.
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Jack Curley was a water polo standout and SVHS All-League in 2005, SRJC All-American in 2007, number 2 in the NCAA at Pepperdine University in 2008, a University of the Pacific Graduate Assistant, and an Olympic Club Masters National All-American.
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