Pools to Open for Girls High School Swim Season

According to the Lansing State Journal, the reopening of swimming pools in Michigan means high school swimming can finally take its first steps toward having a fall season.

Last week, Governor Whitmer signed a new executive order allowing for pools to open to kick off the girls high school swim season.

This is great news for high school swimmers. "Most recently, athletes for outdoor fall sports such as football, boys soccer, boys tennis and cross country could perform activities similar to the their competitions in recent months, swimmers could not." (LSJ)

Eaton Rapids coach Valerie Finney said "one of the sayings on our team is "Swimmers hate to run. That's why we swim."

So now with pools officially open, coaches can focus on building rosters, scheduling practices and cleaning pools to prepare for competition. And let's not forget about organizing protocols when it comes to COVID-19.

It's a short season to operate regardless of where they start. The state meet for lower peninsula schools is still scheduled for Nov. 20-21.

The swim meets will also look different once they arrive. They will have small crowds based on governor Gretchen Whitmer's executive order regarding indoor gatherings to not exceed 50 people.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, "swimmers won't be able to cheer each other on from the end of a lane anymore. Coaches will shout instructions through masks, and swimmers will have to put theirs on immediately after exiting the pool." (LSJ)