The Compton Aquatic Center at St. George’s Independent High School in Collierville is open. While the facility is home to the St. George’s swim team, the 28,000-square-foot center will also benefit the entire Collierville, Germantown and Cordova communities.
The 50-meter long, 25-yard wide lap pool is hosting swim lesson programs, swim team opportunities, masters swimming classes, and triathlon training for both children and adults. The facility’s second pool, a smaller 25-yard, four-lane “lesson pool” is home to the Pool School, a lesson program for children age 3 and older.
After a generous donation of $1.7 million from Robert Janice Compton, whose children attend St. George’s, the pool’s official opening was scheduled for fall 2003, but unexpected delays kept swimmers out of the water. Now, 18 months later, the facility is open for use and can easily accommodate up to 250 swimmers at once.
“We hope to raise awareness of, and participation in, competitive swimming events in our community, including all of Collierville, Germantown and Cordova,” said Cory Horton, aquatic director of the center and head coach for the St. George’s junior high and high school swim teams.
Swim meets and other events will be held year-round at the Compton Aquatic Center due to the unique, state-of-the-art building made by Universal Fabric Structures, which allows heating and air circulation while protecting the building’s interior from the elements. Because of its dimensions, the 50-meter pool can be set up for long-course and short-course training. Area high school swim teams rent lanes for practice, and the pool is also home to the Memphis Thunder Aquatic Club swim team, owned by Horton.
“This is the largest indoor aquatic facility in West Tennessee, and I just appreciate the opportunity to work in such a comfortable, modern facility,” Horton said.
In the future, the school plans to host a health fair on the property, complete with a pool party for all the residents of the surrounding communities to enjoy the facility.
Terie L. Box is the public relations director for Memphis Thunder Aquatic Club.
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