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Prep tourney first for aquatic center
Many more events scheduled this season
polo
Collins Hill High School's Evan Fredericksen defends the goal during the water polo state championship match against Greater Atlanta Christian at the Cumming Aquatic Center. - photo by Jared Putnam

On the Net

A full schedule of the swim meets and other large events at the center can be found online at www.crpdonline.org.

The Cumming Aquatic Center played host to its first large-scale event over the weekend.

Carla Wilson, center manager, said 16 high school water polo teams from across the state participated in the Georgia High School State Water Polo Championship on Saturday and Sunday.

The event drew large crowds to the $15 million facility, which opened this summer on Pilgrim Mill Road off Ga. 400 at Exit 16.

"We had probably between 200 and 300 people for each day," Wilson said.

Greg Little, director of the Cumming Recreation and Parks Department, said attracting such events was a major reason city leaders wanted to open the aquatic center.

"The facility allows us to host things, not just swim meets, but also big tournaments like this one," he said.

The 50,000 square-foot center features one outdoor and two indoor pools.

It provides seating for up to 1,200 people around the competition pool, which is 50 meters by 25 yards in size.

The seating capacity makes the facility available for events ranging up to college-level competitions.

Wilson said the weekend tournament did not feature any Forsyth participants.

"None of the local schools have water polo teams, but they do have swim teams," she said.

Among the water polo teams from nearby counties that did compete were Collins Hill, Greater Atlanta Christian, Marist, Norcross, St. Pius and Southern Crescent high schools.

The aquatic center will welcome its first swim meet Nov. 12.

"We’re hosting seven high school meets here this season, and three [United States Swimming] swim meets and water polo events," Wilson said.