I am a huge advocate for keeping the Johnson State College pool running. I am willing to organize fund raising and contribute my effort to keep the pool running. As an Alumni of JSC, I used the pool for many years as a student and continue to support the use of the pool!

I transferred to JSC in the late 90s from a Division 2 school where I swam on scholarship. JSC did not have a college swim team, but at the time, had a community Master’s Swim Group led by Dorris Florrig that I joined and swam with other adults, JSC staff, etc. I Joined Dorris coaching the age group swim team that practiced at JSC in the 90s. The team was huge and served area children ages 8-18.

(A combination of The Swimming Hole opening in Stowe and Dorris moving away in early 2000s, the activity in the pool diminished and the Team evaporated).

I coached at the Swimming hole for 5 years and then returned to JSC when I realized that local families could not afford to join the swim lessons and swim team at the Swimming Hole. I began teaching swim lessons at JSC and taught mostly for adults and teens, offering an affordable option to learn to swim. I ran a “Fitness Swim program” on Wednesday nights for JSC students and community members, in an effort to get more bodies in the pool and re-start the Master’s Program that Dorris had run. (One Semester I taught 18 JSC students to swim, all of whom were non-swimmers. That was a fantastic program!)

Many years ago, Wendy Velander approached me and asked me to coach an age group recreational swim team at JSC. We started to build that team 4 years ago and it has become a strong team of children ages 8-14. We practice from September- April and offer a fun experience to local children ages 8-18. We keep this program very affordable. Swim Team families travel from Montgomery, Westfield, Hardwick, Cambridge, Morrisville, Hyde Park, Waterville, Jeffersonville, Worcester, Wolcott, Cabot, and Craftsbury.

Water aerobics is offered in the pool Tues/Thursday at 4 and Wednesday at 12. The Instructor of the Tues/Thursday class, Janet, has run programming in the JSC Pool for 20 years! She has a huge following for her class. Mid-semester 2014, all water aerobics were canceled except the Tuesday class, due to budget cuts. Participants in Tuesday Water Aerobics travel to the pool from Johnson, Eden, Morrisville, Wolcott, Hyde Park. Many of the participants are JSC Alumni. I have also seen JSC Employees and students join this class. I have been teaching this class this semester and have consistent attendance. (These participants want the Thursday class back).

This year another swim instructor came to JSC from the Swimming Hole. Cara Hancy started to pour her energy into building the children’s swim lesson program at JSC. Swim lessons for children were previously taught by JSC students. This year Cara has boosted the popularity and reputation of the JSC swim lessons tremendously. There is now a wait list for all classes. Many families participate throughout the year. Cara has also restarted a Master’s Swim Program on Wednesday nights and has a consistent following.

Not only do we offer swim team, water aerobics, lap swimming and group lessons, but during the month of April, Cara and I ran Free Adult Swim Lessons for the community sponsored by US Masters Swimming. We ran the classes as volunteers and got at least 10 new adults swimming in the JSC pool. We had adult participants join these lessons from Burlington, Hyde Park, Eden, Morrisville, Wolcott, and Hardwick. Many of these non-swimmers left the pool Wednesday, after 1 month of lessons, filled with self confidence and able to swim!

Winter attendance in the pool has been higher that ever. Every day you see many lap swimmers, many families joining the Recreational Swim Team and many swim lessons.

The pool is a place for people who are injured or unable to exercise on land to rehabilitate and get fit. The pool is a place for athletes to continue their fitness in efficient way. The pool is a place for children and families to come and have fun and for seniors to join a class and get some social time and exercise. The pool is a resource and should be seen as a gem.

We can not let the pool be closed! Too many people in the community depend on the JSC Pool as a resource.

The JSC Pool is the only affordable and community oriented option for Northern Vermont Swimmers.

Please contact me to continue the discussion on the importance of the pool!

Katie Black, JSC Alumni, Swim Coach & Personal Trainer

888-9909