FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Serenity. That’s how Jaegar Loran describes gliding through the waters at Helen P. Brown Natatorium.
“It’s really nice being underwater,” Jaegar, a senior on the South Side boys swimming & diving team, tells ParkviewSportsMedicine.com. “The best part about swimming is the competition. It’s a boost of adrenaline.”
Jaegar is one of thousands of area swimmers & divers each year looking to leave their marks in the pool at HPB Natatorium. His love for swimming started at a young age, watching his siblings compete for the Archers.
“He stuck with swimming and improved and has grown,” Todd Bolinger, HPB assistant director, says. “It’s been great for us to see him progress through all the years that he’s been here, and really turn into a great swimmer.”
Named for the late Fort Wayne Community Schools board president, Helen P. Brown Natatorium serves as the home pool for nine local high school teams and several area swim clubs. HPB hosts the annual Summit Athletic Conference championships, boys and girls IHSAA sectional championships, the city swim & dive meet in the summer and the Northeast Divisional Club meet in March.
“We host a lot of meets here that attract all kinds of people from all over the region,” Bolinger adds. “When they walk in the building, they’re always like, ‘Wow, you guys have this here! You’re so lucky!”
The 43,000-sq. ft. aquatic facility, opened on the South Side High School campus in 1996, features an Olympic-size main pool that can be configured into 23 short-lap lanes or 8 long-course lanes. Two 3-meter diving boards and two 1-meter diving boards provide for graceful performances.
“Aquatics is definitely a lifetime sport. It’s a source of pride for us to be a part of the community,” Bolinger says.
To learn more about the Helen P. Brown Natatorium, the programs it offers and schedule of events, visit HPBNatatorium.com or call 260.467.2660.