With accomplishments such as district championships, regional championships, relay regional titles, and many individual state champion swimmers, Trinity’s swim team continues to be one of the most successful parts of the Trinity athletic program.

   In an attempt to improve the swimming program and provide a better experience for Trinity swimmers, the pool is undergoing significant changes. However, the construction is not going as planned.

   The Trinity athletic department decided to refurbish the pool and upgrade the equipment for the whole swimming program, but the construction of the pool is about a month delayed. Originally, the completion of the pool was set for the end of August, but Trinity is now shooting for September 30.

   “No fault to the companies or school.” Athletic Director David Langdon said. “As they’re refurbishing it, they’re finding issues just from the pool being old that has to be fixed.”

   According to Trinity Chief Financial Director Jeff Ambrose, certain products such as the Mertha membrane are being shipped all the way from Italy. These products have to be brought through customs which affects their arrival date to Trinity. Along with the membrane, there will be new lines in the pool.

   “I cut myself multiple times like doing flipturns, and so the fact that they are redoing those is good,” senior and varsity swimmer Luke Uttley said.

   This extensive project is being paid for from Trinity’s operational budget rather than a donation. “Although delayed and inconvenient, Langdon said it’s imperative that the job be done correctly.

   “We’re going to fix it right so that we don’t have to do it again,” Langdon said.

   Ambrose said that when a pool gets as old as ours, the pool has a possibility of cracking and popping due to the built up water in the ground. Ambrose believes that if everything goes as planned, the new pool will be functional and without need of repair for a while.

   “[The pool] should be good for the next 20-25 years after this,” Langdon said.

   The new pool should play a significant role in the future of the swim program.

   “A new swimming pool [ensures] a future and certainty in our facility,” Head Coach Rocco Aceto said.

   Aceto sees the pool in a positive way and knows it will help the future of the program.

   All of these changes, though beneficial in the long run, have been daily affecting the team. Due to the construction, the MS and HS swim teams have been practicing at Lake Howell High School.

   “We are limited in our lane space, and we are restricted by our training hours,” Aceto said.

   Swimmers are having to practice later. Uttley said he gets home around 8:30 now and has to stay up a bit later if he isn’t able to complete his homework at school.

   “Yes it’s an inconvenience now, but it will be a big help in the future,” Uttley said.