Pool at Prairie will give Cedar Rapids a fourth prep team

A vote last November in the College Community School District will likely change the high school swimming landscape in Cedar Rapids very soon.

District voters approved a $43 million general obligation bond issue that will fund construction of a swimming pool and wellness center that will be operated by the YMCA. The facility, which will be located across from Prairie Crest Elementary, could open as early as January 2025.

Another likely outcome of the vote is Cedar Rapids Prairie will have its own swimming team. Over the years, any Prairie student wanting to swim had to be a part of a co-op program, first with Williamsburg then, since 2011, with Cedar Rapids Jefferson.

“I was very excited about the community support for the CCSD bond,” said Jessica Hinke, who teaches at Prairie and is the head coach for both the boys’ and girls programs’ at Jefferson. “We worked hard to get the word out to the community and make sure the bond was relevant for everyone in the community. Ever since I was in high school at Jefferson (from 2003-07), I've been a supporter of ‘Prairie needs a pool.’“

The passage of the bond issue also will fund improvements to John Wall Stadium and provide additional practice space for wrestling, baseball and softball, but the centerpiece of the plan is the aquatics center and wellness center, which will include a competition-size pool with diving and seating for spectators, a recreational pool with a splash pad, a walking and running track, basketball and multipurpose courts and a cardio and weightlifting area.

Hinke said plans already are in the works for Prairie to have its own team once the facility is up and running.

“I know we are planning to start a high school team as soon as the pool is built,” she said. “We already have the numbers — for the last five years that I have coached the Jefferson girls’ team, there have been more Prairie students than Jefferson students on that team.

“The boys’ team has always been more evenly-split, until this year. Twelve of the 17 boys on the team go to Prairie. I think having the pool on campus and more easily accessible will encourage more students to try and stick with swimming.”

The fact efforts have stalled on a plan to build a new aquatic facility for the Cedar Rapids Community School District to replace aging facilities at Kennedy, Washington and Jefferson is not lost on Hinke.

“I can't ignore that I'm in a tough spot, being a Jefferson grad and alum of the Jefferson swim team and the current head coach for both the girls’ and boys’ high school teams,” she said. “I obviously want what's best for the Jefferson swim team, but at the same time, I see how important this pool is for the community as a whole and especially CCSD.”

As a parent of a kindergartner in CCSD, Hinke said this: “She is very excited about having a pool so close to school and so much more easily accessible for swim lessons.”

Honoring Cruise

It is bound to be an emotional night when Washington hosts Kennedy on Jan. 2 to start the 2024 portion of the season for both teams.

Not only will it be senior night for the Warriors, but the memory of longtime Washington coach Chris Cruise will be honored. Cruise, who was an all-state swimmer and coached at Washington from 1998-2021, died in September after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

"We are asking for all alums to come and honor Cruise and support our swimmers,“ Warriors Coach Matt Sinnott said.

State rankings

As the season prepares for a short holiday break, Linn-Mar is the top-ranked area team in the power rankings as of Monday.

The Lions are ranked sixth, just behind MVC rival Cedar Falls. Pleasant Valley, Waukee, West Des Moines Valley and Sioux City West are the top four teams.

Individually, Linn-Mar sophomore Parker Macho has the state's best time as of Monday in the 100-yard breaststroke (58.33). Macho also ranks second in the 100 butterfly (50.79). The Lions 200 medley relay of Mason Turner, Macho, Colin Taylor, Hudson Huberg has a state-best time of 1:37.37.