Mills Swim Season to Be Canceled Due to Dead Rat

Jamie Wong Staff Writer

Earlier this week, the Mills swim team’s season unexpectedly came to an end after a dead rat was found in the pool. “We were taking the pool covers off as usual so we could start practice until someone started screaming,” recalled a Mills swimmer. “I ran over and then I saw a dead rat floating in the water.” After the entire swim team had an opportunity to crowd around the rat, take photos, and poke at the rodent with sticks, they began to realize that someone was going to have to remove the rat from the water. Unlucky swimmer Zachel Zheng (12) was chosen to dispose of the deceased rodent. “Wow it was stinky,” Zheng stated about her experience with the rat. “It was hairy, and there was dirt floating off of it. I picked it up and one of the legs twitched. I don’t even know if it was actually dead or not.”

After the rat was removed, the swim team alerted school administration to the incident, who ordered that the pool be drained of the contaminated water and for it to undergo a deep cleaning. For the rest of the school year, students walking past the pool will see cleaning crews decontaminating and refilling the pool with clean water. “I just don’t understand why it’s going to take the entire rest of the school year to decontaminate the pool. If you ask me, it seems more like a one or two week thing,” one unhappy swimmer commented. Some students believe that there may be more to the long wait for the pool to reopen than cleaning the pool. “To be honest, this isn’t the first time I’ve seen a rat running around the pool deck. I think the real reason it’s going to take so long to clean the pool is actually because they’re finally going to call a rat extermination company,” one member of the swim team speculated. “It’s about time. I’m tired of my after practice snacks being stolen by the rats.”

Although the Mills swim season is considered by many to be canceled, the swim team remains hopeful that they will be able to proceed with their regular training and season. “After I explained the unfortunate situation with the rat, the Capuchino swim team graciously offered to let us share their pool,” said the Mills swim coach. Many members of the Mills swim team, seniors especially, are happy that there is some chance at a somewhat normal season. “This is definitely not how I imagined my final season going, but at least it’s still happening,” stated one senior swimmer.

Unfortunately, not everyone is as excited about the decision for the Mills team to share the Capuchino pool. “I’m not sharing the pool with people who have been swimming in rat water,” a member of the Capuchino swim team complained. Some Mills swimmers are deciding to not swim at all this season, like Zheng. “Having to pick up the rat out of the pool was my last straw. I’m traumatized for life, and I’m pretty sure I have a rash on my hand from touching the rat,” she exclaimed. Other swimmers cited the inconvenience of having to travel to Capuchino as their reason for not participating in this season. “With the decreased number of swimmers, it will certainly be more difficult for us to compete at meets, but I believe that those of us that are left are going to do our best to represent our school,” one Mills swimmer expressed. “And at the very least, we can look forward to swimming in rat free water next season.”