Construction crews work near a waterslide at the Rogue Credit Union Community Complex, or Rogue X, in Medford on Thursday. 

A newly formed nonprofit has taken the plunge to offer a competition swim program when the Rogue X sports park opens later this year.

The city of Medford received two proposals to run the program, one from Rogue Rapids and the other from Rogue Waves.

Rogue Rapids, whose proposal received the highest score from a five-member committee of city officials, wants to have 75 or more swimmers in the first year of the program, more than 125 in year two and more than 150 after that.

“We’re making not just a good program but a great program,” said Al Densmore, former Medford mayor, councilor and state representative, who is on the board of directors for Rogue Rapids.

The swim program is a response to a community survey last fall that found many community members thought local swimming opportunities were unsatisfactory and not affordable.

“What we’re looking for is for the organization we partner with to provide competitive swimming at the lowest possible price,” said Rich Rosenthal, director of Parks and Recreation.

Rosenthal said the organizers of Rogue Rapids are not looking to make a profit from the program.

He said a participation fee, which hasn’t yet been set, will be required, but Rosenthal expects it to be on the low side compared with other areas in the state.

He expects a scholarship program will be made available to lower-income families.

Rogue Rapids has already secured annual funding of $100,000 and hopes to do additional fundraising.

It has already devised a schedule for lessons, ranging from early developmental to intermediate to elite. The intermediate and elite groups would have both morning and evening practices.

The entry level groups would be for swimmers age 5-9, the intermediate would be 9-13 and the elite would be ages 13-18.

A grand-opening date for the $76 million Rogue X, a portmanteau of Rogue Credit Union Community Complex, hasn’t been set, but Rosenthal anticipates it will be sometime before Christmas.

Rogue X is located in Howard Memorial Sports Park at the corner of Rossanley Drive and Ross Lane in west Medford.

The massive facility will have two pools, one for competition and the other for recreation, as well as a giant indoor recreation building that’s the size of eight basketball courts.

The competition pool will have 11 deep-water lanes and two shallow lanes. The two pools will replace the former pool at Hawthorne Park as well as the pool at Jackson Park, which will open for the last time this summer. Jackson Park, which opened in 1960, leaks thousands of gallons a water a day and will have operated for 63 years when local children take their last plunge.

Rogue Rapids has already lined up local coaches and has been designated as an official USA Swimming team. USA Swimming is a nationwide organization with 42 member teams in Oregon.

Aaron Ghiglieri, who helped develop the swim program at Cascade Christian High, will be the head coach. Ghiglieri was part of the swimming and diving team.

Laurel Naversen Geraghty, a Medford doctor, is assistant coach.

Geraghty grew up in Southern Oregon competing in various swimming championships throughout the Pacific Northwest. At Brown University, she was elected team captain and led her team to various titles.

She has been teaching swimming since 1989 and began teaching USA Swimming-age athletes in 1990.

Geraghty is vice president of the Rogue Rapids board of directors.

“It’s just nice that there will be a competition pool in the Rogue Valley,” she said.

Geraghty said she expects solid demand for youths interested in competitive swimming.

While many of the details of the swim program are being worked out, Geraghty said, “As a nonprofit, our goal is to make costs as reasonable as possible.”

She said the basic sport requires only a good bathing suit and goggles, though there could be travel involved for some of the competitions.

As time goes by and more

swimmers sign up, Rogue Rapids will build up its coaching staff, and parent volunteers will handle scheduling and other office work. She said the team that’s been brought together will give the swimmers in this valley the support they need.

“Swimming is a very competitive sport in this country, and coaching matters,” she said.

While a website hasn’t been created yet, questions about the program can be sent to roguerapidsswimming@gmail.com.