FRESNO – A ceremonial dip into a new swimming pool never felt so good for members of the Sanger West water polo and swim teams.
With a few Sanger Unified officials and other invited guests on hand, the ribbon was cut on a brand-new aquatic center on the campus of Sanger West High on Sept. 29, ushering in a new era for Hornets’ water athletics. And with the water of this new, state-of-the-art facility glistening in the sunlight, the Hornets now have their own pool to rival that of any other complex in the Central Valley.
“This facility is not just about athletics—it’s about opportunity,” said Dennis Wiechmann, Superintendent of Sanger Unified in a statement. “Our students and community will benefit for generations from the doors this Aquatic Center will open, both in sports and life.”
Ever since their inception, the Hornet’s aquatic athletic teams have had to shuttle back and forth to practices and meets at Sanger High. And while the Apaches’ facilities provided a fantastic venue, the unveiling of this new aquatic hive feels too good to be true.
“This aquatic center will serve many purposes; it will be a classroom for water safety and life skills. It will be a training ground where student athletes test their grit and discover new limits,” said Sanger West Principal Ryan Osier.
In addition to hosting Hornets’ water polo and swim and dive meets, a few local club teams will also enjoy the benefits of taking the plunge into this new facility. According to a press release, the Sanger Seals Swim Club, Sanger Rebel Water Polo Club and Praetorian Water Club will also call this venue home.
And the hope is that, eventually, Sanger West will become the featured destination for state meets, district and section championships and possibly more.
“Our goal with facilities is, we want to make them state-of-the-art that, number one, our community can be proud of, but also, number two, that our section can look at to potentially host, whether that be a division two, division one swim championship,” said Sanger West Athletic Director Daniel Banuelos.
This Olympic-size pool, 193.5 feet long by 75.1 feet wide, is just the first of a two part, $18 million Aquatic Center complex project funded by Sanger Unified’s Measure C bond. This $150 million bond, approved by district voters in 2020, supports school upgrades, college and career preparation and the completion of Sanger Unified’s Educational Complex. According to a press release, the Aquatic Center represents a major investment in student athletics and community engagement.
Now that the complex is ready for use, Sanger West’s boys and girls water polo teams aren’t wasting any time breaking it in. Both teams scheduled matches against Central High on Sept. 29 officially began this exciting new chapter for the Hornets athletics.
And when the Hornets’ teams finally jumped into their pool for the first time, the water might’ve been a little chilly; but the cheers and shouts of joy were worth the temperature and the wait.
“It’s been a long time coming, but I think this opportunity will come to life as we host our first water polo match,” Banuelos said.
