Mermaids’ scramble for pool space

By Jared Harmon

Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008 | midnight

The Nevada Desert Mermaids synchronized swimming team should be experiencing a period of growth.

The team generally receives a bump in new memberships from the sports raised profile during the Olypmics.

In addition, the Mermaids are coming off a win at the Esynchro Age Group National Championships in July while three have been selected for the 16-and-under United States national team.

With the closing of Pavilion Center Pool in Summerlin adjacent to Palo Verde High, coach Monica Taylor said the Mermaids are in a tight spot.

"We really expected to be growing right now," Taylor said. "We were set up for a great season. We had a lot of talented girls coming back and we've gained a lot of experience. We were hoping to really expand but without a home pool and without enough space it's tough to say what this year will be like."

The outdoor pool is scheduled to close in October while walls and a retractable roof are added for a spring of 2010 reopening. The Las Vegas City Council voted for the renovations after a 2006 survey demonstrated a community need for an enclosed, year-round pool.

Taylor said she understands the city's decision and feels it is doing its best with what she called a bad situation.

She has contacted other pools around the Las Vegas Valley but has found lane space at a premium in virtually every area of town.

"We normally practice six days a week in six lanes of space," Taylor said. "The Henderson Multigenerational Center has been helpful and is trying to work with us but it looks like they can only offer three lanes of space three days a week. I'm just not sure what we can do with that."

With the majority of the Mermaids coming from Summerlin, Taylor said she was also concerned that the girls would not be getting home until 9 or 10 p.m.

Taylor's daughter, Faith Lutheran senior Ashley Taylor, said she is more concerned about the changes that would have to be made to the team's complex routines if there is not enough lane space to accommodate them.

"We practice 20 hours a week and it's all valuable time to us," Ashley Taylor said. "If we have less space to practice in and less time, I'm not sure how much we can really do. It would be really difficult to get our patterning down right and perform the types of routines we normally do."

Monica Taylor said there is also the possibility that some of the higher profile swimmers on the team might have to move to California to get the level of training they had grown accustomed to with the Mermaids.

"There are a few girls that, if they don't feel they are getting the level of training they deserve, might have to head out to another team," the older Taylor said. "We would hate to see them go but in a worst case scenario I would understand that they have to do what they feel is best."

Jared Harmon is a reporter for the Home News. He can be reached at 990-8922 or [email protected].