This past summer, Wave Aquatics was approved to manage the Juanita Aquatic Center (formerly Juanita High School pool). Many were eager for this news to be announced and were relieved when it was confirmed.
With the recent closure of Northshore pool in Bothell, many people in the community were concerned. Bothell, Inglemoor, and Woodinville high school teams swam at Northshore pool and were counting on Juanita Aquatic Center to stay open, hoping to keep their programs alive. High school swimming in the Northshore and Lake Washington School districts depended on the Juanita pool staying open. Fortunately, Wave Aquatics was approved to manage the pool, which alone alleviated this concern. In fact, Wave’s management provided my high school swim team, Juanita High School, the opportunity to have a terrific season this year, placing second at 3A State.
Other members of the community are grateful for the pool remaining open. Lap swim continues to be available weekday mornings. Patrons range from high school students, squeezing a bit of exercise in before school, to men and women who have regularly used the pool for years. Also, swim lessons and water aerobics have many attendees at the aquatic center. This pool is of great significance to our community and it would have been heartbreaking to see it close. We can all be grateful for supporters who worked towards keeping the pool open. The community fought to keep this pool.
On a personal note, if the Juanita Aquatic Center had closed, I would have looked into training with a different club team. In reality, training with another team would have meant too much traveling.
Wave’s management greatly impacted my future. Recently, I signed my National Letter of Intent to swim at Rutgers University (New Jersey), effective next fall. Had the pool closed, this opportunity would not have been available to me. With the Juanita Aquatic Center still open, others will have opportunities like mine, all possible thanks to Wave Aquatics.
Emilie Kaufman is a Juanita High School senior, three-time state champion and two-time All American.
