Earning Letter For Swimming Would Make Splash With Teen
I swim for the Whitworth Waves, a team for swimmers under 18. My teammates and I spend two to four hours a day at the pool. We go to meets almost every weekend. The only month we have off is September. I put a lot of time and effort into swimming and would like to be recognized for my work. I would like to earn a school letter for swimming.
Right now the Greater Spokane League is the only AAA league in the state without swimming as a high school sport. Even the nine AA leagues have swimming. One Spokane school, Shadle Park, already has a pool. We could practice at Shadle and other pools in the area.
Swimming is the best sport to play, because it works every part of your body. Many swimmers don’t have time to participate in other sports, because they interfere with swim practices and meets. Recognizing swimming as a high school sport would increase student participation in sports.
Ever since I was in elementary school I have looked forward to getting a letter jacket. I had hoped that by the time I was in high school the GSL would recognize swimming. At that time I didn’t see who it would hurt to have high school swimming. I still don’t. I’m now a freshman at Ferris and there still isn’t high school swimming. I’ve been told it’s because it would cost too much money and take money and students away from other sports.
Swimmers only want the opportunity to represent their schools. We work just as hard as other athletes to achieve success, so we deserve letters just as much as they do. If we couldn’t have school swim teams, we should at least be allowed to earn letters and represent our schools at state meets.
Gonzaga Prep is the only school in the GSL that allows its swimmers to earn letters. They must go to a certain number of practices and meets. At one time, Gonzaga Prep was interested in starting a swim team, but I heard that the GSL talked them out of it by threatening to cut them from the GSL if they started one. Seven other leagues in the state have swimming, including high schools in Cheney and Pullman. Why can’t Spokane schools?
In swimming, no one is left on the bench. There are many different events, so everyone participates. We swimmers just want an equal opportunity to represent our schools.
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