New Orleans Privateers Return Home, Celebrate Opening of Lakefront Aquatic Center

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, July 27. THE University of New Orleans swimming and diving team returned home on Monday, joining the greater New Orleans community in a celebration to commemorate the re-opening of Lakefront Aquatic Center.

UNO chancellor Dr. Tim Ryan led the ceremony, which also included remarks from athletic director Jim Miller, Lakefront Arena general manager Marco Perez, New Orleans City Council President Arnie Fielkow and New Orleans City Councilwoman Cynthia Hedge-Morrell.

Following the remarks, the opening was ushered in with a ceremonial cutting of the backstroke flag. Once cut, members of the Privateer swim team dove in the pool while UNO diving coach Richard Marschner displayed several acrobatic maneuvers off the three-meter board.

Home to the Privateer swimming and diving program from 1984 through 1992 and again from 2004 to 2005, the Lakefront Aquatic Center is the final athletic facility on the UNO campus to re-open its doors following the impact of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.

"This is a great day, not just for Lakefront Arena but the entire University," said Miller. "For the athletic department, this facility gives our swimming and diving program instant credibility."

"I could not be more pleased for head coach Randy Horner, his staff and the young men and women who represent UNO and the city of New Orleans so well every day"

For the last four years, the swimming and diving program has been a team of nomads.

After Katrina, the women's program relocated to Atlanta, where they spent a large part of the 2005-06 season before returning to New Orleans.

Without a facility, the team, which grew to include a men's program in fall 2008, has spent the last three years practicing and competing at different pools around the Crescent City.

When the men's team opens their season in September, it will represent the first UNO home meet at the facility since the UNO women contested Houston on Jan. 29, 2005. The last Privateer men's home meet at the facility occurred in 1992.

The Lakefront Aquatic Center can seat up to 600 spectators and is the only 50-meter indoor pool in the area, allowing it to host high school, state and national meets. Patrons of the pool can also take part in Red Cross swim lessons and enjoy birthday parties.

New amenities at the pool include an updated sound system, automatic chemical treatment system and a new video scoreboard. Additionally, the outdoor pool has been resurfaced with new deck lights and landscaping.

For more information on the Lakefront Aquatic Center, please visit http://aquaticcenter.uno.edu/

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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