Big 10
For the Big 10 Conference, I have to go with the University of Minnesota and the Jean K Freeman Aquatic Center. Holding many Big 10 Conference Championships, most recently on the women's side in 2021, this large arena has stands on both sides of the pool. When holding an event as big as the Big 10 Championships, the crowd noise can change the environment entirely–in a good way!
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Pac-12
For me, this was a no brainer: Stanford University and the Avery Aquatic Center. This place has 4 separate pools in their one facility alone. A main competition pool, diving well with platform, and two other practice pools. The main competition pool has a large amount of seating on both sides of the pool and is able to host large events such as the USA Swimming National and Junior National meet in 2019.
Big-12
Not only is the University of Texas-Austin irrefutably the best swimming school in the Big-12 right now, but in my opinion, they have the best pool as well. The Lee and Joe Jamail has a capacity of 2600 and holds many events for the USA Swimming System but also holds the Big-12 Championships every year and the NCAA Women's Championships in 2019. This 10 Lane, 50 Meter pool with a separate diving well is a beautiful sight with many fast swims in it as well.
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ACC
This ACC pool to me is another easy pick. Georgia Tech University McAuley held the Olympics in 1996. It is really hard to beat that. This pool is 10 lanes, and 50 meters with a separate diving well, but is converted to short course for the college season, most recently holding both the men's and women's NCAA National Championships this year.
SEC
The SEC has many pools that are similar with each other so this one was hard to pick, but my choice came down to who can and has held the biggest and best meets. The University of Tennessee's Allan Jones Aquatic Center has held multiple SEC Championships and other USA Swimming sanctioned meets like Junior Nationals and Arena Pro Series. The stands are large and conducive to the impressive swim team the University of Tennessee has as well.
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* Originally published on June 3, 2022, by Kyle Haflich
