History of Tooele High School Swimming

When the Tooele Memorial Swimming Pool was constructed in 1950, there was a ledge built in the shallow end that was used as a teaching platform. It was about 1 foot under the surface of the water and about 3 feet wide. A bulkhead was constructed which made the pool 20 yards long for meets. Every time a meet was held, the team would bring the bulkhead up from the basement and using face masks and snorkels would bolt the sections together, put on the top and attach the starting blocks.

In 1960, the ledge was chipped out so the bulkhead would not have to be assembled and a 25 yard pool could be used for meets. The times for the first meet in the 25 yard pool produced real slow times compared to what the swimmers had been doing. When a tape measure was produced, it was discovered the pool was 25 yards and 11 inches long. This necessitated use of the bulkhead again until it became so unstable it could no longer be used.

The 25 yard 11 inch pool was used until 1976 when it was shortened to exactly 25 yards. The last state meet in the Tooele pool was in 1963 which was also the last time the Utah State Championships were held in a 20 yard pool.

The Tooele Memorial Swimming Pool was closed forever in March 2001. Being structurally unsound, it was demolished in December of that same year. Construction of a new aquatic center began in May of 2002 and was completed one year later.

During the two year interim between the closing of the old pool and the opening of the new aquatic center, Tooele High School practiced primarily at the Deseret Peak outdoor pool and Cyprus High School. All of the meets were away and long bus trips became the norm.

Practices at Deseret Peak during the winter were an adventure with the girls dressing in the concession stand and boys in the filter room. A “Porta Potty” was set up and sometimes the swimmers stood in long lines waiting their turn. Ice on the deck was always a problem and luckily no one suffered a serious injury. The wind was also a factor as it always seemed to be blowing which cooled off the water.

In addition to the daily bus trips to Deseret Peak, the trips to Magna and West Valley for practice were long and required quite a sacrifice of time for the swimmers, but a special bond between members was established due to the sacrifices they all made and they were very “tough” come the championship meets. The boy’s team won their first state title since 1985 in 2002 and the girls finished third. Both teams battled to second place finishes in 2003.

In May of 2003, the four million dollar Leigh Pratt Aquatic Center became the “home” pool for Tooele High School. An eight lane state of the art competition pool with scoreboard and team room helped to build a foundation for continuing the tradition of championship swimming teams in Tooele. In 2004, donations from alumni and friends of swimming amounting to nearly $21,000 was used for a new record board, sound system, upgrading the scoreboard and a large American flag which made the Pratt Aquatic Center one of the finest facilities in the country.

Pratt Aquatic Center

Holly Tate, Head Coach

This is Holly’s fifth year as the head coach for Tooele High School Swimming. Holly has swum competitively for most of her life. She swam for Cottonwood High School and was the state record holder in the 100 Backstroke for several years. She went on to swim for the University of Utah for 4 years. She currently swims for Tooele Masters Aquatics Team and still enjoys swimming competitively. She has finished as high as second at the Master’s National Meets. 

Holly's Mom and Dad (Carma Hanks and Jim Whear) were both big Tooele swimmers in the past

She is looking forward to continuing the legacy that Mel Roberts established for Tooele High School.

Staci Smith, Assistant Coach

Staci came from a "Fishaloe" family where she and her siblings all swam for Coach Mel Roberts at Tooele High School.  Her Dad, who swam with Mel, started announcing at the swim meets when she was a sophomore and still announces for the swim meets today.  She married Stuart Smith, who is also a "Fishaloe" alumni.  They still enjoy swimming for Tooele Masters Aquatic Team.  Staci's three children continued the tradition and swam for Tooele.  

Even when she didn't have any of her own kids swimming she continued to be a big supporter of the Buffs and Mel's program, helping at swim meets.  

She considers it an honor to be helping the Buff swimming spirit and program continue to help others, just like it has helped her and her family.  

Abby Delaney, Assistant Coach

Abby participated in age group swimming for several years while growing up near Richmond, Virginia. She got back in the pool during her undergraduate years at Univ of North Carolina, and was an assistant coach for the local age group swim team in Chapel Hill, NC. A military move to Ft Bragg, NC led to a head coach position for the local age group swim team and aquatic director position there. 

She went on to become a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant, with a specialty in aquatic therapy. She served as a faculty member of Univ of Alabama in Huntsville, Alabama where she taught all levels of swim ability in the school of health sciences. 

Her varied experiences in aquatics have always been fulfilling, but she is most excited to be coaching again! She believes swimming encompasses much more than the physical sport. It provides an opportunity for personal well being, through discipline, dedication, team work and leadership.

Printable Contract

Tooele High School Swimming Team Contract
Name_______________________________________Date______________Grade_______
_______I will comply with the bus rules. I will ride the bus to and from meets. I understand that if I am not on the bus
at the designated time to leave, I will be left. I will not drive or ride in a private car to or from a meet. If your parent
wants to provide alternate transportation after the meet, he/she must talk with one of the coaches in advance.
______I will exhibit good sportsmanship
______I will keep myself eligible (minimum 2.0 GPA, no more than one “F”, “I”, and no “U’s”)
______I will attend all meets, except in circumstances where I am excused by a coach or parent in advance.
______I will have a note from a parent/teacher/doctor if I need to miss a practice. This is the only way to be excused
from a practice. If I have an unexcused absence from practice, I understand I will not be able to attend the next swim
meet.
______I will respect and trust the coaching staff in the decisions they make regarding the team. I understand I have
been placed in the events they believe are best for myself and the team.
______During the season, competing with the team overrides other activities.
______I understand relay teams for the championship meets will be determined by time, sportsmanship, behavior at
practice, and commitment to the team.
______I will wear proper attire on meet days.
______I understand if I am absent from a class on the day of a meet, I can not compete in the meet.
______Leaving practice early is not allowed unless you have a note from a parent.
______I will participate in the team fundraising event (Snap! Raise) or pay the minimum amount each swimmer is
asked to raise ($300.00).
_____I intend to compete on the Tooele High Swim Team. I have read this contract and by signing, I agree
to follow the conditions for team membership.
Signature
Swimmer_________________________________________________________________
Parent___________________________________________________________________

Read the THS Swimming Contract 

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Scoring:

Event Limitation:

Each swimmer may swim 4 events, two of which must be relays.

Order of Events

Utah Top 100 

Utah Swimming Coaches Association

THS Top 25 All Time Performances

Girl's Records

Boy's Records

Composite Record 

ADA Accessible Records