The Pinnacle of Aquatic Excellence

Several supporters of the Bolles swimming and diving program including alumni, parents, current and former coaches and members of the School administration gathered for the Bolles Phase II Aquatics groundbreaking ceremony on January 21. Phase II adds to the facility enhancements completed in 2021 including Tarver Pool along with the Murphy Olympic Walk, Gold Scoreboard, Zorn Stadium and Meyers-Labenz Family Pool Deck. View more photos in the online gallery.

Phase II will include the Hodges Champions Club, a two-story facility named in honor of the late George H. Hodges Jr. ’56 through the realized estate of Kernan and George Hodges Jr.  This new facility will overlook both Uible Pool and Hodges Field, also George’s namesake, at Skinner-Barco Stadium. Located on the second-story south wing of the Hodges Champions Club will be the Steve Gold Coaches Suite, named in honor of longtime program supporter, swim parent, alumnus and past Bolles Board member Steve Gold ’95.

Located on the second-story north wing will be the Chester Skinner Champions Suite, named in honor of one of the most impactful supporters of the School and through the contributions of Rusty Newton ’72 and Kathy Skinner Newton ’72 as they carry on the philanthropic efforts of Kathy’s father A. Chester Skinner ’40.  This wing will have a dedicated terrace with panoramic views of Skinner-Barco Stadium and Uible Pool and will allow visitors to enjoy warm hospitality while watching a multitude of Bolles sports teams play on the field and in the pool as well as a central location where championships at Bolles will be celebrated.

The Gregg Troy Welcome Center will be named in honor of the Hall of Fame coach who guided numerous Olympic, collegiate and high school champions in his tenures at Bolles and the University of Florida. The Welcome Center will front a new dedicated dryland space that was made possible by past swim parents Chris and Shelly Lanning, as well as parents of current and alumni swimmers Justin and Kinsey Powell and their extended family, Al and Sandy Powell.

“It took a lot of donors to get us to where we are today and I am very grateful to you all,” said President and Head of School Tyler Hodges. “The Bolles Swimming and Diving Program is a dynasty that was built by legendary coaches and generation after generation of swimmers and divers showing their best grit in the pools. With the completion of Phase II, our Aquatics facilities will reflect that incredible history while shaping future champions.”

During the ceremony, Head Swimming and Diving Coach and Aquatics Director Peter Verhoef shared the impact these facilities will have on Bolles student-athletes and thanked all who contributed to ensure the program’s continued success.

The Bolles Office of Advancement hosted a celebratory opening of Tarver Pool April 30 honoring the contributions and vision of the many generous donors, professionals and supporters who made the School’s new Myrtha pool a reality.

The event included tours of the new facility, an opening ceremony and a reception in the dryland room during a swim meet, which also was underway that evening at Tarver Pool.

Guests enjoyed an up close look at the pool, its new signage and setting including the Murphy Olympic Walk, the Gold Scoreboard, Zorn Stadium, the Meyers-Labenz Family Pool Deck, swim lanes and blocks given by various donors and Tarver Pool itself. The highlight of the afternoon festivities was a brief presentation and offering of thanks from Bolles Board of Trustees Chair Fernando Acosta Rua ’85, Bolles President and Head of School Tyler Hodges, Chief Advancement Officer Carol Nimitz and Bolles Head Coach and Aquatics Director Peter Verhoef. Verhoef addressed the donor crowd but also directed remarks toward the Bolles swim team behind him. He reminded everyone that the Bolles swim program is built on an incredible legacy of generous families and athletes that all should remember and appreciate as they move forward in excellence.

Enjoy a video of the event here.

Construction on the 25-meter by 25-yard pool began more than a year ago following the delivery of an elite Myrtha pool from the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. The pool was installed there temporarily for a two-day International Swimming League Championship in late-December before it was disassembled and moved to Jacksonville. Myrtha pools boast a  patented lamination process of a hard-bond PVC to stainless steel, which promotes lower operational costs through life maintenance and makes it a championship standard in the swimming world. The pool, which was built at the site of the former Lobrano Pool adjacent to Davis Gym, promises to build on Bolles’ six-decade legacy of swimming dominance. It has an 8-foot minimum depth and full springboard diving facilities, which means Bolles coaches now have the resources to prepare student-athletes for the latest evolutions in NCAA-level competitions.

Tarver Pool begins the transformation of Bolles’ aquatic facilities and sets a new benchmark for developing student-athletic excellence. This project completes Phase I of the redevelopment of Bolles’ pool facilities. Work now enters Phase II of the planned expansion for aquatic excellence—which includes expansion of the dry-land training room, welcome center, coaches offices and new meeting/venue space overlooking both Uible Pool and the track and stadium area.

For more photos from the ribbon-cutting event, visit our online gallery.