March 21, 2007
SAN DIEGO - A new era in San Diego State athletics officially got underway on Wednesday during the grand opening of the Aztec Aquaplex on the SDSU campus. Highlighting the day were appearances by University President Dr. Stephen Weber, Associated Students President Matthew Keipper, Associated Students Executive Director Dan Cornthwaite, along with Associate Athletic Director Jenny Bramer. Aztec head coaches Carin Crawford (water polo) and Deena Deardurff Schmidt (swimming and diving) were also acknowledged during the festivities, which concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception.
The Aztec Aquaplex features two pools, one for competition and another for recreation, as well as a hydrotherapy spa. The competition pool measures 51 meters in length and 25 meters in width. It also includes a movable stainless steel bulkhead, which allows a flexible water depth of anywhere between seven and 17 feet.
The pool can accommodate a multitude of competitive swimming events (25-yard short course, 25-meter short course, 50-meter long course); water polo games with floating cage courses of 25 yards, 25 meters and 30 meters, in addition to three 25-yard fixed cage courses; and diving competition with its one- and three-meter springboards.
The facility's 7,300-square-foot recreation pool is just as multi-dimensional as its counterpart. The pool, which is open to the public, maintains a water temperature of approximately 84 degrees and features a beach-style entrance on one side leading to a depth of five feet. It also includes four lanes for lap swimming and water aerobics, as well as an area for water basketball and volleyball, recreational swimming and floating lounges. Throw in a cloverleaf-shaped hydrotherapy spa and San Diego State has one of the leading aquatic facilities in the United States.
The nerve center of the Aztec Aquaplex lies in the 5,000 square-foot operations building, which contains showers, locker rooms, restrooms, administrative offices, guest services and storage. The facility is also equipped with an 8,000 square-foot solar water heating panel that doubles as a shading structure for the seating area, which can accommodate approximately 500 spectators.
The completion of the Aztec Aquaplex proves that San Diego State University is committed to providing its student-athletes and the Aztec community with the highest quality facilities in America.