Find Your Flow and Just Go at the HCISD Aquatic Center

Roel Rodriguez
Jun 26
3 min read

(This article was written by Roel Rodriguez and was featured in the July 2025 issue of Explore Harlingen Magazine.)

If you haven’t had the opportunity to visit or tour the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District (HCISD) Aquatic Center, you are missing out.

The Aquatic Center, which opened in 2014, is ground zero in Harlingen to catch exciting local high school and amateur aquatic sports. It also hosts various activities for HCISD students and student athletes and provides amenities for adult wellness for HCISD staff and community members.

Aquatic Center Staff

Yvonne Moran, HCISD Aquatics Center Coordinator and Diving Coach, has fostered a culture focused on instructional programs, safety, and facility cleanliness.

The HCISD Aquatic Center staff, composed of 12 courteous and skilled members, start their day at 6 am to ensure all programs and participants are properly cared for.

Amenities

The multifunctional Aquatic Center has a dedicated diving pool, a shallow water pool, and an 8-lane, Olympic-style pool to enhance and support the aquatic programs. The Aquatic Center also has a fitness room, instructional classrooms, a large conference/training area, and access to the Boggus Stadium track.

High School Swim

High school aquatic programming consists of varsity boys and girls U.I.L. Swimming, Diving, and Water Polo. Harlingen Cardinal Swimming and from Harlingen South Hawk Swimming teams utilize the Aquatic Center for strength and conditioning training and to practice for swim meets.

Over the years, many HCISD swimmers have displayed competitive swimming success competing across the state and earning opportunities to swim at the next level. Recently, two HCISD swimmers signed letters of intent to swim in college: Giovanna Pierami will be competing for the UTRGV Vaqueros and George Arrona will be competing for Centenary College.

SEAL Program

Beginning in the 2014-2015 school year, HCISD started a Safely Educating Aquatic Learners (SEAL) program. The SEAL program is offered to all HCISD 2nd grade students and all 8th to 12th grade Life Skills students as part of the district’s physical education department. Participation in the SEAL Program is only with parent/guardian approval and taught by certified aquatic professionals and monitored by American Red Cross First Aid Certified Lifeguards.

Recently, the HCISD Aquatic Center received a “Step and Swim” grant, which was used to place incoming 3rd grade transfer students in the SEAL program.

Community Programming

The HCISD Aquatic Center collaborates with the City of Harlingen Parks and Recreation department to enhance the aquatic options in our community. Community programming includes:

Summer programs such as SEAL Program, Fundamentals of Competitive Swimming Camp, Fundamentals of Water Polo Camp, and Fundamentals of Diving Camp.
A SEAL Swim Team, which is a fee-based, age group swim club affiliated with U.S.A. Swimming. Strong swimmers aged 6 and older are eligible to try out and join. Members receive instruction on four (4) competitive strokes, starts, turns, and relay exchanges and are eligible to compete in local, state, and national U.S.A. Swimming-sanctioned events.
Water safety training courses for HCISD Jr. Reserved Officer Training Course (ROTC) cadets.
Lap swimming, the outdoor track, and the fitness center are accessible to HCISD staff and community members holding memberships.

Future HCISD Aquatic Center sports programs include swimming, diving, and water polo for middle school boys’ and girls’ students.

The HCISD Aquatic Center offers year-round programming and is located at 315 N. 77 Sunshine Strip. They can be contacted at 956-364-3950 and have information online at www.hcisd.org under the HCISD Athletics page and via Facebook at HCISD Aquatic Center. Hours of operation are Monday to Thursday, 6 am to 7:15 pm and Fridays, 6 am to 4:30 pm.