Sue Sitter/PCT Swim instructor Corina Bell (right) works with one of her pupils.

Lines formed early Monday morning at the Rugby swimming pool for the first day of the 2019 summer season.

The busy day began with aquasizers and lap swimmers taking a dip in the indoor pool at 6:30 a.m., when temperatures were already beginning their climb to the 90-degree range.

Swim instructors held preschool-age students in their arms as they glided around the shallow end, helping the youngsters get acquainted with the water. Teens and adults jumped from the two diving boards in the deep end.

Pool manager Bonnie Berginski told the Tribune she was pleased with the turnout for the season’s start.

“Our lessons have started, we’ve got good turnout,” she noted. “We’re fully booked for private lessons this week and next week, but we do have openings for the next session.”

Berginski said the next public lesson session will begin June 17, and run for two weeks. The following two-week session will begin July 8.

Berginski indicated people seeking information about private lessons may call her at (701) 208-1448. “The best bet is to text so I can call back when I’m not in the pool,” she added.

“And then,” Berginski continued, “the aquasize (water exercise) in the morning, from 6:30 -9 a.m.; that’s going really well. We’ve had 20 people join. 5-7 p.m. is also aquasize. It’s kind of on your own right now until I can get freed up to do lessons.”

“And then there’ll be more structure. It’s kind of hit and miss right now,” she added, referring to the busy pace at the pool.

The pool opened for a limited number of aquasizers about two weeks ago, and Red Cross water safety and lifeguard trainers held classes at the pool last week.

Berginski said via text message to the Tribune last Thursday, “Red Cross trainers David and Jessie Kerlin have spent three days this week with 17 new lifeguards and 17 recertifying lifeguards from Rugby, Leeds, Bottineau, Rolla, Rolette, Maddock and Cando. We are very fortunate to have an indoor heated pool to host this training! Without it lifeguards would have to travel hours to receive training, overwhelming already busy training centers. The cold spring weather has been a challenge to all area pools.”

After the pool opened, Berginski elaborated on her text. “The water is pretty much a steady 86 degrees,” she said, “so it’s comfortable for older swimmers and younger swimmers alike. We have our challenges with humidity, but now that the weather’s warmer, it’s not quite as bad in here.”

“We’re very fortunate to have an indoor pool,” Berginski said as she walked near the diving boards, stopping to pick up a pair of swim goggles. “A lot of the surrounding ones aren’t open yet.”

“Even Bottineau’s coming over here now,” she added. “They had some that were in training (for lifeguard and water safety certification) there, and they can’t get into their pool yet, so they came here.”