Semoball

Huntington Pool renovations alters Piranhas practice, meet schedule

The R.W. Huntington Municipal Pool in Poplar Bluff has been undergoing rennovations for this summer. The tentative reopening date is July 1.

The pool is used by the Poplar Bluff Piranhas AAU swim team in the summer, but the squad has been forced to remain indoors in the pool at the Black Water Coliseum for practices and early season meets.

“We’ve had to adjust our practice schedules and have kids come earlier in the day,” Piranhas coach Beth Lewis said. “We have three sessions and had to overlap a little bit since the space is different.”

The Piranhas practice in the mornings with ages 9-12 in the water 7:30-8:30 a.m. followed by 13-up at 8-9:45 a.m. and ages 8-under going 9:45-10:30 a.m.

The delay to get outside has its advantages and drawbacks depending on the age group according to Lewis. The pool at the coliseum is 25 yards long while the pool at Huntington is 50 yards.

“Because the pool is shorter at Black Water, the younger kids are able to swim the full 25 yards,” Lewis said. “But the older kids prefer to swim in the longer pool.”

The Piranhas had to host their first meet of the summer season at the coliseum on Saturday with teams from Kennett and Charleston in the water with them in the tight and humid facility. Poplar Bluff is scheduled to host the Junior Olympic Qualifyer on June 25, just less than a week before the scheduled reopening of the Hunnington Pool.

“Right now the plan is to host the Junior Olympic Qualifyer at BRC,” Lewis said. “It still can occur on a short course, but we’re hoping that maybe we can get in the outdoor pool for that.”

The Piranhas’ next meet will be Saturday at the Sheryl Crow Aquatic Center in Kennett.

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