The Modesto (California) district has broken ground on a long-awaited aquatics center at Gregori High School.
The Modesto Bee reports that the center will feature a 12-lane, 50-meter pool for competitions, with shaded seating and a building with restrooms and equipment.
Funding for the project comes from a $198 million bond package approved by voters in November 2022.
This will be the seventh pool in the Modesto district, giving all of the district’s comprehensive high schools a pool for aquatics athletes.
With no pool on campus, Gregori water sports athletes have had to go to Downey High School for their practices every evening, students said. They hope the pool will not only end their commutes for practice but also bring more participation in Gregori’s swim and water polo teams.
Gregori High School Principal Phillip Jaramillo said the groundbreaking was 15 years in the making — Gregori opened in August 2010.
“I want to recognize the parents and our students who for years endured the challenges of traveling across town for practices and competitions day after day, year after year,” Jaramillo said.
