BY COACH STU CORLISS
The Los Alamos High School Swimming and Diving team will host a Waffle Pool Party Fundraiser at East Park Pool at 111 East Road from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11.
The price is $20 per ticket/ $50 per family; tickets are available from team members, or at the door. All proceeds will go to benefit the swimming and diving teams. The costs have all been donated. Checks for tickets or donations should be made payable to “LAPS-Los Alamos Public Schools.”
Pajarito Lodge 66 of the Masons has traditionally helped the Hilltopper swimmers and divers with a waffle fundraiser, but the group has taken a break due to the recent Public Health Orders.
In addition to one last day in the sun, attendees will be served waffles and beverages. While supplies last, Hilltoppers T-Shirts will be distributed. Lap swimmers can swim early, then as the sun climbs, there will be some fun games (dry and wet) for kids of all ages.
Since the Larry Walkup Pool is closed for renovation and the other outdoor pools are usually closed after Labor Day, East Park Pool will be the only pool to which county residents can retreat to take a break from the early September heat.
The fundraising event will take place rain or shine, but we expect the historical weather for the date: 77 degrees, and sunny. There may be a slight risk of thunderstorms in the afternoon in which case the pool will have to be cleared.
The Hilltoppers open the 2021-22 campaign as a formidable force in New Mexico High School swimming and diving. The boys team is the two-time defending state HS champion and the girls team promises to be the best in many years.
College swimming.com ranked the Los Alamos High School boys team the 26th best dual meet team in the country for the 2020-21 season from over 5000 high schools that sponsor the sport. The rankings include all high schools of any size, public and private, anywhere in the country.
The Hilltoppers squad will feature three high school All-Americas, Orion Henderson, and sisters Kelly and Anna Wetteland who transferred to Los Alamos from Maryville (Tennessee) High School. In addition, the Topper divers, recognized as the best in the state, will return senior Kyle Hatler, the Los Alamos HS team record holder in diving.