Losing the middle school competition pool is devastating

Amelia Rottinghaus

Guest Column

Losing the middle school competition pool is devastating

I have been swimming since I was 4 years old, and I never thought a pool would mean so much to me. It’s where I learned what exactly I was capable of. I set goals and achieved them. I worked so hard to become such a talented, successful swimmer by spending numerous hours and swimming countless laps in that pool.

Looking back, I realize that I took our awesome eight lane pool for granted; Which now sits empty in the Charles City Middle School. It’s a huge part of my life that I lost and won’t get back. The pool was the one place I could go to and relieve my stress from the day. The way it felt when I was in the water is something I can’t even describe. So many of my teammates feel the way I do. And they wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the winter but in that pool which is why our YMCA team should have had a say in closing the pool.

With over 50 kids on our team, there is no way we would all be able to practice and fit inside the YMCA pool. It is way too small.

With the 8-lane pool at the middle school, we already had three to four kids in every lane. The middle school pool was already pushing it on size, having to use a smaller pool wouldn’t work.

Also, the pool at the Y is not full length. There are many of the kids who would get used to the smaller size, making it harder to compete in a full length pool. Since the pool is only three lanes, we would have to have more practice times that go later, such as 4:30-5:30 p.m., 5:30-6:30 p.m., 6:30-7:30 p.m. and 7:30-8:30 p.m.

Besides the size, that pool gets used by others in the community for classes throughout the day and in the evening, so having to have our team find time to use it would be difficult.

In addition, the pool was always being used. Our high school girls swim team used the pool, with the YMCA club team using it from late November to late February, four days a week from 4:30-7 p.m. Besides the two teams, the middle school gym classes also use it, and so do the high schoolers. This pool was not a waste of money and was constantly being used by kids of all ages.

In fact, our pool is one of the roughly four competition pools in Iowa to have a full deck and eight lanes. Since I have been swimming for so long, I have seen many competition pools, and most of them do not come close to how nice our pool is. As I look at all of the ones I have swum in, the majority of them are six lanes, with a small deck that has no room. Having a larger pool makes meets go by smoother and also faster. The swimmers have more room to get ready for their race, and the officials are more comfortable. Many people don’t realize just how blessed Charles City was to have a pool that nice.

As a result, losing this pool is a lost opportunity for both boys and girls at a young age. When children lose the opportunity to become a stronger swimmer, some become uninterested or scared in water. Having children who know how to swim in our community is very crucial. With the Cedar River running right through our town, kids who learn how to swim and then soon grow to love it will be able to help themselves get to safety if they’re in danger. Children can start swimming on the YMCA team as young as the age of four. They grow and become a stronger swimmer and look forward to being on this team for many years to come. Being apart of swimming has taught me so many things. I have met friends from other towns that I will know forever. I never thought I would have such awesome and understanding coaches who helped me along the way. But most of all, I never thought I’d become such a strong swimmer. Losing this pool means these children lose these chances.

All in all, this pool has always been important to me ever since I learned how to swim all four strokes, dive off the blocks, and do a flip turn. Every single milestone I have ever accomplished swimming was done in that pool. Now looking at it sitting empty is beyond saddening. It bothers me to know that there are children who won’t get to experience what I got to throughout swimming in that pool. They won’t get to experience learning how to dive off the blocks or do a backstroke flip turn, or experience the fun, yet challenging practice nights in the pool.

In conclusion, my YMCA team and I should have had a say in the pool decision. The middle school pool became a huge part of my life. I never thought I would have to think about not spending Saturdays at a swim meet. We just don’t have enough room in the YMCA pool with how many kids of all ages we have on our team. Our town was blessed with a pool that was able to let many children accomplish their dreams and fit swimmers’ purposes. Losing this pool is not something easy a swimmer can get over. Realizing that my winter home has been taken away from me is devastating. It was a pool that I will forever love, even if it means it sits empty.

Amelia Rottinghaus is a resident of Charles City.