Flagstaff High School Swimming

Getting away from NAU swimming for a second, the only high school in Flagstaff with a swimming team is in trouble. Flagstaff High School has produced numerous individual state champions and even taken the 4A-II Men’s team title! This is a program that is rich with tradition.

Today I am sitting here writing this blog with the knowledge that their pool facility is once again having problems. This is an older facility; it is 25 yards long with 6 lanes. The ventilation system is shaky at best. The deck is cracked, the pool walls are cracked and the blocks look like they were built with tinker toys. When you walk into the building you just smell old pool.

Over the years the team has survived by the city and the school district taking care of the pool. Well the city has pulled out and the school district was faced with a decision to make. Do they keep their winning program, or cut it to save money. Well, they made the right choice this year. They have kept the program, but the pool has continued to see problems.

Today is their last home meet of the season. At 3pm the Eagles will be swimming and diving their way into the regional and state meets, unsure of where the meet will be held. That’s right; their last home meet might not even be in their own pool. At this time (12:45pm) NAU has been contacted to take over and host the final “home meet” for the Flag High Eagles. We are waiting to see if their pool will be fixed or if we will be hosting the meet.

NAU is more then equipped to handle the teams and run the meet, but what does it say about the City of Flagstaff that they cannot keep their only High School Swimming team’s pool working? I know that they pulled out, and I am sure they have their reasons, but swimming is an important part of this community. The high school not only plays host to the Eagles team, but also the local swimming program, Flagstaff Snow Sharks. This team has been around for over 30 years, their home has been the high school pool. It is hard for me to write about this, because I am the head coach for the other team in town, Flagstaff Peaks Aquatic Club, and we train out of NAU.

The Snow Sharks are hurting. Their pool is a mess, and we (Flagstaff Peaks) have absorbed a lot of their unhappy swimmers. This is great for us, but not great for the city and swimming.

I am just a messenger that loves the sport. I have been around swimming since the day I was born. And for the past 25 years it has only given me joy and happiness, plus a few records and championships along the way as well. Please help ensure that another generation can have the same joy that we have.

Thank you,

Dave Rollins

Assistant Swimming Coach Northern Arizona University

Head Coach Flagstaff Peaks Aquatic Club