THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 28, 1996 TAG: 9601260238
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 30 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, CLIPPER SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
THE INTEREST IS there. But the pools aren't.
That's the biggest obstacle swimmers from the Southeastern District face as they lobby to lift their sport to varsity status and have it sanctioned by the Virginia High School League.
Currently, a group of swimmers from Great Bridge, Indian River and Western Branch are traveling to the Norfolk Salvation Army to practice and compete under club guidelines.
Debbie Pearsall, Norfolk Christian's swimming coach and mother of Indian River swimmer Blaine, is helping them get started and thinks that school officials should give the swimmers their rightful chance to swim at the high school level.
``These kids that are swimming,'' she said, ``why should we hold them back from lettering? This is their sport. Not everybody plays football.''
According to Indian River principal James Frye, a group of interested students led by junior Natalie Lonergan came to him to get things started.
``A bunch of the kids in the building started asking about it,'' Frye said. ``It was the first time we've seen any interest. I believe that any type of activity is good to keep the students involved. The more involved, the better off they are.''
Frye helped the Indian River swimmers take their club status a step further by signing an eligibility list that will allow the Braves to compete in VHSL sanctioned events such as the Optimist Meet and the Kecoughtan Meet, which was held last week. So far, Frye is the only Southeastern District principal to give the swimmers the coveted ``blessing'' to compete under VHSL regulations.
The next step was to find a place to practice and someone to direct the students.
Enter Pearsall.
Pearsall has long believed that swimming belongs in the Southeastern District. At present, the league is the only one in South Hampton Roads missing varsity swimming. But Pearsall hopes her efforts will change that in the next year.
``Nobody took the bull by the horns,'' said Pearsall, who works at the Norfolk Salvation Army pool and coaches the Southeastern District swimmers on a volunteer basis. ``I'm not doing this as a good Samaritan. I want my son and daughters to letter in swimming.''
Pearsall connected with Lonergan, a friend of her son, and ``everything skyrocketed from there.''
Pearsall held an organizational meeting in December and more than 75 parents and swimmers came to show support and interest.
``The parents were excited,'' Pearsall said. ``We have some excellent swimmers in the district. But there's nowhere for them to practice. That's the only thing we're lacking in this area. What I'm hoping is that because Indian River has given the blessing, the other schools will be pulled along. We have the parent involvement on the outside, all we need is the involvement from the inside to make this gel.
``It's something that the kids will always be able to do. You don't see any 80- or 90-year-old football players. But you can swim forever.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos by L. TODD SPENCER
Shauinna Johnson of Indian River practices in the Norfolk Salvation
Army's pool.
Debbie Pearsall talks with Melissa Kosinski at an Indian River
practice. Pearsall is Norfolk Christian's swimming coach.
by CNB