Perry Summer Swim Team 2020 season cancelled, board says

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The 2019 Perry Summer Swim Team paused for the obligatory squad photo. The team was coached by Haileigh Kenyon, with Anna Ridnour assisting. Photo submitted.

The Perry Summer Swim Team Board of Directors announced Friday the cancellation of the 2020 summer season due to the novel coronavirus global pandemic.

The directors said the “decision was not entered into lightly,” but because “many towns, including ours, will not have a pool available in the foreseeable future, the board made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 competitive summer swim season.”

The board issued to following statement to Perry Swim Team members:

The Iowa West Swim Conference held a meeting on May 18, 2020, to determine how to proceed with the 2020 season in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting proclamations from the governor’s office regarding swimming pool closures, etc. Each town seemed to be in a different position as to whether or not they would have a pool available this summer and if so, whether it would be feasible due to social distancing guidelines to hold swim meets.

Given that many towns, including ours, will not have a pool available in the foreseeable future, the board made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 competitive summer swim season. If individual towns have the opportunity to compete on their own or with another town, these will not be meets sanctioned by our conference. Additionally, if you are a senior, you will be allowed to swim next summer if you wish to do so.

Like so many difficult decisions schools, clubs and organizations have been forced to make this year, this decision was not entered into lightly. In April the board formed a subcommittee who provided alternatives, such as holding a “fun,” shorter rec season, but with the numerous teams without a pool and the unknown of what will happen with the spread of the coronavirus, this also seemed impossible.

So where do we go from here? Hopefully, we will be able to have our PAWS winter season (although it may look a little different), but by summer 2021 we expect our team to be back stronger, more determined and more united than we have ever been.

Once the pools open, we encourage older swimmers to get back in the water in some way and younger swimmers to take swim lessons when available (either Red Cross or private) and reach out to the older swimmers for advice.

We hope to see you on the pool deck someday soon but until then, please have a happy, safe and HEALTHY summer. If you have any questions, please feel free to direct them to our swim board members.

Yours in swimming,
The Perry Summer Swim Team Board

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