The University of Wyoming is one step closer to building the second 50-meter pool in the state after a significant donation to its Difference Makers campaign by the Double 4 Foundation and Dave and Melanie True. Dave True is associated with both the Double 4 Foundation and UW as a trustee.
UW Athletics reports that it is now almost 75 percent of the way towards their fundraising goal of $20 million in private donations, which will combine with $120 million from the state of Wyoming to construct a new natatorium and complete renovations on War Memorial Stadium.
The completion of this project would finally give the Cowboy State a second 50-meter pool, and the first in the southern half of the state. Currently, the only 50-meter pool is over 250 miles north in Campbell County. That pool is home to the Gillette Swim Team, one of Wyoming’s 22 club teams and the only one with the ability to train long course.
The Campbell County school board recently approved $38.5 million to replace that facility which is nearly 40 years old. Construction was planned to start in April of this year.
The Wyoming swimming and diving team’s current home is the John Corbett Building, which houses an L-shaped 25-meter by 25-yard pool. The facility received a facelift ahead of the 2021-22 season which added two large fans for air circulation, a new HVAC system, acoustic-dampening panels on the ceiling, a new team room, and renovated the locker rooms, but is still over 50 years old.
UW has had some humor about the situation, posting photoshopped images on April Fools’ Day of recreational pools in the middle of quads and on top of buildings.
The construction of a new UW pool has been in talks since at least 2020, when a bill that appropriates funding for state funded capital construction projects included $25 million specifically earmarked for a new natatorium as well as the aforementioned football stadium renovations. That bill faced opposition due to legislator concerns over out-of-state students constituting a majority of the swimming and diving teams, and was eventually postponed indefinitely on March 20, 2020, presumably due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Wyoming is the 10th largest state by land area, but ranks 50th in population as of the 2020 Census. Including U.S. territories, it ranks 52nd with the addition of Puerto Rico (30th) and Washington D.C. (50th). The need for bigger, better swimming facilities has been talked about as early as 2012, and now it seems it will finally come to fruition.
Excited for WYO Swimming. I coached the men’s team 1984-88. We always looked forward to travel meets…anything was better than Corbett!! However, Corbett has been home to some great swimmers dating back to the 1970’s.
Go Pokes, Coach Dave and Staff
I hope I can swim in this pool one day!
This coach and staff and program deserves this.
Have to say, the pool quality was a major factor in my 2022 daughter’s decision to pass on Wyoming. It was in her final 5 and we visited on our own during Covid. I am glad to see that they will be getting a state of the art facility.
Excited for Davo and Cowboy nation🤠ðŸ¤
Amazing news for mid-major college swimming on the west coast! Wyoming is a quality option for men & women recruits
Wyoming is on the west coast?
It used to be a long time ago. Half of Wyoming had a sea.
At $140M, what’s the breakdown between stadium and natatorium portions of the money?
Great news. It is kind of wild to me that out west, outside of California and Arizona, the two remaining state schools with men’s swimming are Wyoming and Utah. Not bigger, coastal/wealthier states like Washington, Oregon, or Colorado, and not historically stronger programs like some of the old Big 8 schools. Even New Mexico, Montana, and Idaho/Boise State seem more likely in a vacuum.
Edit: forgot UNLV. Somewhat less surprising given the strength of swimming that comes out of the area the past success of the program.