Swimming
Every student who attends Dallastown Area Schools at some time throughout their educational experience will spend time in the swimming pool. The pool was not part of the original school district, but it was added sometime after the district was established. Not only do the students of Dallastown get to enjoy the pool, but at times the pool is available for anyone who lives in the Dallastown School District. Although the pool has been very functional it has seen many changes in its history.
"The construction of the pool took place in 1971, but the first swim team was not established until 1974", explained Mrs. Christine D'Orsie. Mrs. D'Orsie was the Swim Team Coach in 1975, and from 1983 to 1984. She also recalls holding practices everyday after school until 5:30 p.m., and three mornings a week during months of November through March. This may be the reasoning behind them placing first in the county in 1985. "Now the practices run two to five nights a week, and three to four mornings a week", states the 1998-99 swim coach Mrs. Heidi Fye. The meets are on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The meets are held against every school district in York County that has a pool. Mrs. Fye was also on the high school swim team from 1989 to 1993.
Already there have been various alternations made to the pool for safety reasons. Mrs. D'Orsie recalls, "The diving tank was deepened from nine feet to twelve feet, to meet state regulation of safety, and the starting blocks were moved to the other end of the pool, because of the pool depth." "There is also new construction being done to the pool area now." "They are adding more spectator space above the pool, two more locker rooms, and this time making the pool itself deeper because Dallastown is barely meeting the new safety regulations." Mrs. D'Orsie commented. She also added, "You have to be in the high school to join the swim team. And there was no Wildcat Swim Program for middle schoolers, but there was an intramural program for them. There are now more people in the swim programs then in the past."
Miss Wendy Miller, who was on the swim team her sophomore year, 1977-78, remarked to the question on other changes. She remember, "At every meet a school record was broken, and the 1976-77 season ended early due to the energy crisis". Miss Miller also commented about the change in the swimsuits. "Not only has the style, and design changed, but the material used to be nylon, now they are made from lycra."
"Some things the pool is now used for", states Mrs. Fye, "Are family and community swims, Aqua Aerobics, the Learn to Swim Program, Adult Education Classes, the Swim Club, which was started in 1987 by Mr. Richard Howley, Lifesaving classes, and the diving team." It is also used for the third grade swimming program, which teaches younger students the basics in how to swim, this began in 1972. Gym classes are sometimes held at the pool too. At first it was not coed, but in 1971 Pennsylvania State Law required physical education classes to be with boys and girls.
As you can tell, since the pool was constructed in 1971, it has been a great asset to the people living in the Dallastown Area School District. The new construction and current changes happening at the pool, only enforces just how much of an advantage the pool has become to the community it serves. The first 28 years of the pool's history has been full on changes, records, broken records, and many memories for many people. The future of the pool is sure to see more changes, and create many new memories for many years to come.
