The Value of Location
When we were looking for a swim team, location was important. I computed distances that we would have to drive if we joined other local teams. It was our personal family choice after looking at location and team philosophy to choose the Edge Swim Club. We have watched the team grow over the last three years. We are thrilled that over 100 Culver City kids are now on the Edge Swim Club.
Quoting the Vice Mayor
The 5 Culver City families on the Royal Swim Team choose to drive across town to one of Royal’s pools. Vice Mayor Alan Corlin states in thefrontpageonline.com article on Nov. 1: "My idea was to keep Culver City people from being forced to traipse all over the Westside to find a place to swim when we have The Plunge for them right here.”
- Those families could choose Edge, and they could swim at The Plunge.
- Those families could choose the Westchester Y — 4.05 miles from The Plunge.
- Those families could choose the Westside Y – 4.27 miles from The Plunge.
- Those families could choose the Westwood Rec Center – 5.2 miles from The Plunge.
- Those families could choose the UCLA new kids team – 6.99 miles from The Plunge.
- Those families could choose the Westside Swim Club at Crossroads School – 6.5 miles from The Plunge.
- Those families could choose Santa Monica’s Sharks – 5.99 miles from The Plunge.
- Those families could choose Team Santa Monica – 5.99 miles from The Plunge.
Instead the families on Royal choose to travel not just to another pool on the Westside, but to the Valley.
Royal has three other pools that their team uses.
- Calabasas High School – In an article in The Acorn newspaper. dated Aug. 24, 2006, Culver City resident "Matthew Hammer, who had previously been swimming in leagues for three years, says he changed leagues so he could have (Val) Bagri as his coach. Hammer insisted that he didn’t care about the size of the pools; he was here for the coaching.” Their family chooses to drive 24.4 miles away from The Plunge to Calabasas High School.
- West Hills JCC – 23.9 miles away from The Plunge.
- Most pertinent to this debate, however, Royal’s third existing pool is the Westside JCC – only 4.4 miles away from The Plunge. Lenny Krazelberg himself invested $115,000 to get this pool re-opened and runs a swim school out of it as well as their swim team. (See link http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=16274 for article.)
Why Shatter the Peace?
The question in my mind is why would Alan Corlin and Parks and Recreation Director Bill LaPointe want to disrupt their already thriving and growing aquatic community at The Plunge to squeeze in yet another new swim team that would be in direct competition with an already successful existing community swim team? There will not be room for both teams to continue to operate their existing programs, let alone grow in the same place.
An Expert Opinion
Two swim team programs existing on the same deck at the same time will not work. When I attended the Monday, Oct. 23 City Council meeting, I heard the spokesperson for USA Swimming, the organization that oversees competitive youth swimming, tell the Council that "USA Swimming strongly recommends against two teams sharing a pool. Such proximity leads to recruiting and dysfunctionality. Recruiting is expressly prohibited by USA Swimming. It is a recipe for disaster." It is my hope that the City Council will consider these facts when discussing this ongoing debate about The Plunge swim team issue.
Another Strong Opinion
Written By David Wally
Dear City Council Members:
I am writing this letter at my daughter’s behest to correct something she got wrong about her brother, Daniel. A little more than three weeks ago, in her speech to the City Council, Lilah said, "Daniel’s gone to practice every day at The Plunge. And every day he has gotten better. He knows he’s not gonna swim in the Olympics, and he may never even win one single heat. But nobody laps my brother anymore. Nobody laughs at him, either. He’s lost all his baby fat. He’s in great shape, and he’s worked to become a very strong swimmer. All thanks to Edge."
A Turning-Point Meet
On a recent weekend, the Edge Swim Club participated in a big meet at the Jesse Owens pool in Inglewood. All of our rival teams were there -— COLA, Torrance, Royal, ZAP, PVAC and other teams. Daniel swam in a lot of events, including two team relays. This was his last meet in the 13-14-year-old group before he moved up to the next level after he turned 15 last week. The last event Daniel swam was a 100-meter-backstroke.
Breaking Out Front
Daniel got a very good start, and he immediately took a small lead on the six other swimmers. After Daniel still had the lead at the first flip turn, all of us standing next to the pool started to get really excited. When Daniel was still in the lead after the first 50 meters I started to celebrate. I screamed, "Way to go, buddy!" Lilah had to explain to me that it was a 100- meter race and Daniel was only halfway done. All I could hope was that he would not run out of gas. As Daniel continued the race, he kept on increasing his lead. Everybody on our team (kids and parents and coaches) was jumping up and down. They were screaming at him to go, go, go.
Wide Margin of Victory
Daniel touched the wall about five body lengths ahead of the second place winner. As he looked around, you could just see from the look on Daniel’s face that he was in a state of shock. He had just won a heat for the first time in his life. I’m so bummed that I didn’t have a camera with me. I can only hope that I never forget the smile that came over his face. I raced over to greet Daniel as he climbed out of the pool. I got thoroughly soaked as Daniel hugged me for about twenty seconds. In all honesty, it was the single tightest hug Daniel has ever given me. Then I got pushed off to the side as all of Daniel’s teammates mobbed him. I have no doubt it was a moment that will forever be burnt into his memory banks. And in mine, as well.
A Sisterly Update
Lilah wanted to let you know that she underestimated her brother. Daniel did indeed win a heat this weekend for the first time. And, whether she knows it or not, Lilah’s time will come soon, too. Who knows? Maybe one of these kids can make it to the Olympics. You never know.
(Signed)
David Wally
P.S.: As we all continue to work through this very contentious debate, I hope we can all strive to maintain the civility I wrote about to all of you last month.
