Kent high school swim teams to practice at Renton, Covington pools

The girls high school swim teams at Kent-Meridian and Kentwood are expected to use pools in Renton and Covington to practice until they are able to use their new home pool at the Kent YMCA when it opens in September.

The schools lost their previous home pool with the closing July 30 of the Kent Meridian Pool. The city of Kent ended its contract to operate the aging pool because of the opening of the YMCA at Morrill Meadows Park on the East Hill.

Kent-Meridian will practice at the city of Renton’s Henry Moses Aquatic Center for the first three weeks, said Brian Smith, Kent School District athletic director, in a Wednesday email. Kentwood will use the Covington Aquatic Center, run by the City of Covington, for the first three weeks. Kent-Meridian divers will use the Renton School District’s Lindbergh Pool while Kentwood divers will practice at the Covington Aquatic Center.

“We are still working out some of the details which might change as we get closer to the fall practice sport start date of Aug. 26,” Smith said.

Both teams are expected to transition to the YMCA either Sept. 9 or Sept. 12.

“We are excited to work with this organization and appreciate their partnership and community mindedness,” Smith said.

The city of Kent as part of its partnership with the The YMCA of Greater Seattle helped make sure the new facility would house the Kent-Meridian and Kentwood swim teams. The boys swim teams compete in the winter.

Kentridge High uses the Lindbergh Pool while Kentlake uses the Covington Aquatic Center.

“Over the past few years the four schools have averaged around $12,000 total,” Smith said about rental fees at the pools. “This includes both the boys and girls swim seasons. We have the same budgetary goal for the use of the YMCA pool.”

The Kent School District reportedly plans to demolish the Kent Meridian Pool for either classroom space or more parking. The city had a contract with the school district to maintain the pool and hired Aquatics Management Group, Inc., to operate it.