After a five-month hiatus, the La Jolla High School boys water polo teams finally dove into their newly-renovated home pool Oct 23 at the Coggan Family Aquatic Complex, with the varsity team winning both their consecutive games.
The junior varsity boys played first, also winning.
Being back in the Coggan pool is “amazing,” LJHS water polo coach Tom Atwell said. “It’s awesome.”
The Coggan pool will re-open to the public at 6 a.m. Thursday, Oct 26 for lap swim.
The regular water polo season ends Friday, Oct 27.
During the first of two back-to-back varsity games Oct 23, the La Jolla team won 19 to 1 against Scripps Ranch High School, with the visiting team not scoring until the third quarter.
An hour later, La Jolla won 14 to 7 against Valhalla High School with Valhalla scoring early and the teams keeping pace with each other until the second half, when La Jolla pushed ahead.
The pool had been closed since mid-May for a multimillion-dollar revamp including replacement of the previous concrete deck and pool plaster.
“The pool and deck are well past their expected lifespan and resurfacing is urgently needed to avoid damage and preserve the Coggan for the future,” according to the Coggan website, which adds the original pool, built in 2002, is “well past” its expected 10-year lifespan.
The $4.1 million plans were funded by a donation campaign.
The pool’s renovations were expected to be finished by mid-September but experienced various delays.
At 12:30 p.m. Oct 23, the San Diego County health inspector cleared the pool and the La Jolla teams hit the water shortly after, Atwell said.
As the varsity games were designated the “Senior” games with a special meal afterward, Atwell addressed the gathered parents ahead of the first play.
“I marvel at the ability to get a kid from starting off their high school season as a freshman and [making] it through four years and stay committed to the sport … all the while maintaining great grades,” he said. “And we have a group of seniors that has done exactly that.”
A second phase of renovations, which will overhaul the locker rooms and other buildings, will begin in 2024.
