The smell of chlorine fills the air as water splashes echo around the pool, with small puddles of water on the ground from people entering and exiting the pool. Not every high school in America has two pools, let alone one, but South is an exception. 

Hidden within the South’s fitness area, the small six-lane, 25-yard pool and the larger, eight-lane, 25-yard pool offer a hidden oasis for South’s swimmers and gym classes alike. The pools at South were initially built in the 60s, with a signature mini dome to match South’s iconic dome, according to Keith MacDonald, head boys swim coach.

 Having a pool in the high school setting enriches the gym experience, Brittany Ethington, head girls swim and dive coach, said. Ethington swam for her high school swim team without having the designated pool for the school. Her experience was less than ideal because her team was forced to swim outside, despite the weather being too cold.

“We had to swim outside for half of our season and then when it was too cold to swim outside, [in] rented lanes at the Crystal Lake YMCA,” Ethington said. “We are very fortunate to have not only one but two pools. It is a rarity among many high schools in Illinois.”

The pools allow students to grasp water safety and adopt swimming as a life skill, MacDonald explained. Students can swim at South through swim clubs, teams, and gym classes. However, in order for the pools to be safe, the school must abide by specific maintenance protocols to keep the pools clean and safe. Placed underneath the building are rooms attached to the pools, which are responsible for the many tasks needed to maintain the pool, according to MacDonald.

“Swimming is a life-long skill that our students will use long after they have left GBS. Learning to be water safe is also a vital skill that is worked on for those that need it in our PE classes,” MacDonald said.