CHHS swim team hosts final competition in current pool

Heights High senior Jaryl Maxey swims in a freestyle event.

The Saturday, Jan. 31 Heights High home swim meet is a big one. It is the final competition that will take place in the school’s 1962 vintage pool. The next time the team competes on the high school’s Cedar and Lee campus, it will be in a brand-new pool.

The meet, to be held at 3 p.m., is also senior night, when each senior is honored and the competing team, West Geauga, partners with Heights to raise funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the event will be the generosity of the teams, collaborating to benefit cancer research. For the past five years, the two teams have coordinated the fundraising event and raised an average of $1,000 each year.

“In addition to swimming two practices a day, the team is also organizing a fundraiser for cancer research,” said Coach Dan Budin. “It is extremely impressive that these athletes spend four hours a day in the water, make school work a priority and organize a benefit event.”

“We hope that swim team alumni will join us for this meet to celebrate the historic pool and to honor the class of 2015,” added Budin.

The team captains for the 28-member Heights High swim team are Linden Wike and Charlotte Shumaker for the girls, and Evan Radivoyevitch and Alex Kellon for the boys. Ted Arnold is co-coach and Jim Miller is the faculty liaison.

At the end of this school year, Heights High will close and a two-year renovation will begin. The project includes building a new pool with eight lanes (there are currently six), updating accommodation for handicapped access, and providing more convenient entry for public use. The new building is scheduled to open in fall 2017. During the renovation, high school students will attend school at the Wiley campus. The swim team will use the Warrensville High School pool during that time.

For more information, contact Coach Budin at dbbudin@gmail.com.

Joy Henderson

Joy Henderson is the parent/community liaison for Heights High.

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Volume 8, Issue 2, Posted 10:32 AM, 01.27.2015