Sportsplex fails to recognize swimming

This letter was written in response to, “County approves $25 million in bonds for Sportsplex,” (April 18, 2018).

My name is Andrew Lambert, and I am among the few elite swimmers that go to Mead High School.

Our swim team, the Spokane Waves Aquatic Team, swims in a 34-year-old pool at Whitworth University. Our resources for workouts are very limited. Because our resources are limited, our “weight training” consists of using a rusty leg-lifting machine, a lat pulldown machine, sit-up bench, a squeaky swim pull-up bench and dumbbells so old they look like they’re straight out of the year 1972.

The Whitworth swimming pool, which was built in 1984, is out of date. The bulkhead of the pool, which we walk across every day, is rusty and has broken plastic that stabs your feet when you flip turn. When our team travels across the state, or the country, we always compete in a technologically advanced swimming pool. The closest “nice” swimming is in Federal Way, Washington, a 4 1/2-hour drive.

I am personally disgusted that Spokane County fails to recognize that one of its greatest sports is not being aided due to its lack of popularity in the county and or GSL.

Andrew Lambert

Spokane