SLIPPERY ROCK - As the members of the girls swim team tried to drag him into the pool, Kirby Burns stopped them.

The Slippery Rock High School boys and girls swimming coach didn't stop them because he wanted to stay dry.

He broke away, reached into the pocket of a khaki shorts, and pulled out his wallet and keys. He then held out his arms as an invitation to be dragged into the Morrow Field House pool after the Rockets girls team beat Hickory 73-54 in their first home meet in school history Monday night.

It was a swim the second-year coach and his team never thought he would take.

That's because back in the summer, the school district unceremoniously dropped swimming as a sport because of financial concerns.

"I was mad," said junior swimmer Lauren Tibbens. "I've always wanted to swim for my high school team and now they are going to take it away my junior year?

"It was a nice program that just needed to get some school support. They needed to support us more."

Members of the team received a letter informing them that the program was dead after just five years.

But after some lobbying from parents, swimmers and Burns, the program was re-instated in October. It didn't take long for Slippery Rock University to offer the Morrow Field House pool for the high school's use.

"The athletic director at the university, Paul Lueken, and our AD, Cory Hake, have a good working relationship," Burns said. "The college team is off during their break, so we are able to use the pool."

The Rockets have six home meets this season, a welcome change from seasons spent on one, perpetual road trip.

To the swimmers, having a home meet was something they always wanted but never thought they would get.

"It's really exciting," Tibbens said. "We've always wanted a home meet, and we finally got one. You want to be able to impress your home crowd."

Burns is hoping that the ability to host meets will make more athletes consider joining the team.

The girls team has just eight swimmers and the boys team just five. Yet the Rockets have been very competitive early in the season. The girls are 3-0.

Katie Riggs won the 50 and the 100 freestyle against Hickory and was also a member of the Rockets' first-place 400 freestyle relay team.

"They are looking forward to swimming for a program that is fully functional," Burns said. "I hope this will generate more interest in the program."

Burns is a middle school teacher in the district and is trying to spark interest in swimming among his students.

He is also trying to draw from the Butler YMCA and Slippery Rock Eels programs for talent.

"In middle school, they do a lot of sports," Burns said. "By the time they get to high school, they have to chose. Hopefully, some of them will chose swimming and we'll get more kids."

Tibbens already has qualified for the District 10 meet in the 100 backstroke.

She won the event against Hickory with a time of 1 minute, 28.39 seconds.

"She's a great swimmer," Burns said. "She's a hard worker and a joy to coach. I'd take 20 more just like her."

Someday, maybe.

But for now, Burns is willing to enjoy the small steps forward the program has taken since it was killed off, only to rise again.

"It's been a roller coaster ride," Burns said. "It's been an interesting year."