Campbell swimmers get late start

The Campbell High swim team is on dry land, so to speak.

Due to a delay in payment to the owners of the pool that the Sabers use to practice, the team has not begun working out for the upcoming season. Ideally, Campbell would have started practice in mid-October to prepare for preseason meets that run this weekend through December and the regular season and postseason that goes from January to mid-February.

But good news is on the way. Payment to Hope Chapel, the owners of the pool in Kalaeloa, has recently been made for last year’s use of the pool, according to Campbell principal Jon Henry Lee. He is in the process of finding out how soon the team can start swimming.

Lee said the payment from the state Department of Education to Hope Chapel was delayed for several reasons, including questions concerning Hope Chapel’s tax-exempt status.

No matter the reason, some parents of Sabers swimmers are not happy.

“The kids are suffering and they’re getting discouraged,” said Kaori Tutewohl, the mother of Campbell senior swimmer Raymon Tutewohl. “Some of the kids have been swimming on their own at the beach, but that brings up safety issues. This is crucial for them. They need to be in the pool.”

Lee said the parents who are complaining are doing it “rightfully so.”

“We know this is interfering with the season, and (aside from the delayed payment issue) we (at Campbell) could have been in communication with Hope Chapel earlier (in an effort to work out something) so we wouldn’t be in this situation now.”

The OIA swimming and diving season start date was Monday with the first preseason meet scheduled for Saturday.

The Sabers have had only one state champions since 1998 in Makoa Alvarez, who won three golds last year but graduated.