The Forest Park Aquatic Center is planning a formal dedication ceremony for 40 new 60-by-24-inch banners.
The banners honor the 78 competitive swimmers, divers, coaches and volunteers who have come through the facility and gone on to participate in the Olympic Trials over the years. The list of 78 also includes 23 individuals who competed in the Olympic Games, collectively earning 13 medals.
All 78 individuals are represented on one banner, while all individuals from the State of Indiana as well as those who have competed at the Olympics are represented on their own banners which hang from the facility’s 20 light poles. Each light pole banner also has a QR code that links to the biography of the individual.
The dedication ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 25 at the Forest Park Aquatic Center, 1077 Cicero Road, Noblesville. Representatives from USA Swimming, Indiana Swimming, USA Diving, AAU Diving, and the City of Noblesville are just a few of the many dignitaries who will be in attendance.
“When we started working on this project we figured there might be a couple dozen individuals who had come through the facility and gone on to participate at Trials,” said Greg Conner, President of The Friends of Central Pool, the not-for-profit entity that has operated the facility since 1997. “However, we had no idea the list would be so large. To think that the Forest Park Aquatic Center has been part of the journeys of so many accomplished athletes is extremely humbling and a huge source of pride for this community!”
The new banners were 100-percent financed through private contributions.
“I can’t say enough about the support we have received from the community to make this project happen,” Conner said. “We’ve received many extremely generous gifts from both corporations as well as individuals and families.”
The list of 78 is led by Noblesville native David Boudia, whose diving career started at the Forest Park Aquatic Center when he was 11 years old. He would go on to have one of the most storied diving careers in the history of the sport, which includes winning a gold medal in the 10-meter platform competition at the 2012 Olympics.
“The Forest Park Aquatic Center is where it all started for me,” Boudia said. “It’s where I overcame my fear of the 10-meter platform and gained the confidence to truly believe I could compete at the highest level within the sport of diving. I’m honored to be recognized alongside all these other accomplished athletes at a facility that means so much to me.”
Those being honored include:
Olympians
Alison Gibson, Amy Cozad Magana, Ariel Rittenhouse, Becky Ruehl, Bruce Kimball, Charlie Casuto, David Boudia, Haley Ishimatsu, Jessica Parratto, John Wingfield, Justin Wilcock, Kelci Bryant, Krysta Palmer, Mai Nakagawa, Mark Lenzi, Mary Beth Dunnichay, Patrick Jeffery, Scott Donie, Steele Johnson, Thomas Finchum, Tyler Downs, and Wendy Wyland.
Olympic Trial Qualifiers
Aaron Kirkpatrick, Aidan Wang, Amanda Burke, Andrew Cramer, Andy Kendrick, Angie Trostel, Bailee Sturgill, Brooke Taflinger Garcia, Brooke Schultz, Casey Johnson, Chen Ni, Cole VanDevender, Dan Croaston, Daniel Kanorr, Dashiel Enos, Dean Panaro, Drew Wolfred, Ellie Clarke, Eric Warrick, Gabby Fizen, George Callanan, Gregg Enoch, Holden Higbie, Jake Butler, Jason Lancaster, Kate Hillman-Bramlett, Kim Powers, Kristen Hayden, Lacey Boutwell Schnell, Lacey Houser, Lily Castanon, Lisa Dolansky Conner, Lisa Faulkner, Lisa Trefzger, Lori Rizzuto, Luke Forester, Luke Whitlock, Madison Huitt, Many Vazquez, Margo O’Meara, Mark Murdock, Matt McDonald, McKenzie Murphy, Meme Sharp, Mickey Smythe, Mike Mosca, Mike Wantuck, Pat Evans, Rylan Ridenour, Sarah Bacon, Sarah McCrady, Sophie Verzyl, Sydney Couch, Toby Stanley and Zach Cooper.
“Our City is extremely fortunate to have such an incredible amenity in the Forest Park Aquatic Center,” Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen said. “This is a fitting way to honor so many individuals that have represented Noblesville at the pinnacle of success within swimming and diving.”