Team Florida swims for a cause
Swimmers from the Cape Aquatics Swim Club did 200 laps at the Cape Coral High School pool Saturday as they took part in their annual Fun-a-Thon fundraiser.
Unlike most years, however, the event served a dual purpose. It not only raised money for the club, but also awareness for what the group says is the need for an Olympic-sized, 50-meter pool and recreation center in the city of Cape Coral.
Kristen Tedhams, swim coach at the club, said the older swimmers got pledges to swim their laps in a certain amount of time, with the money going back to the club.
But it was about much more.
“We also want to raise awareness that we want to build a larger facility. We went to the council meeting about two months ago and raised awareness of an aquatics center,” Tedhams said.
Swimmers have to travel to Florida Gulf Coast University or Centennial Park in Charlotte County to use the long pool.
With the summer being long-course season, the current 25-yard pool at Cape High is totally inadequate, not only for training, but for competition, the organization maintains.
The club is looking for different ways to raise money and find sponsors for the center, as well as find support from the Cape Coral City Council, which has been very receptive to the idea, if they can find the money to do it.
Among the council members present Saturday was Dan Sheppard, who not only has been the biggest supporter of a pool, but marveled at the kids and how they could push lap after lap.
“After being here today I am blown away by some of the accomplishments from these children. It’s mind-blowing,” Sheppard said. “We have children doing 200 laps. They come here six days a week. I’m inspired and I’m going to push this 100 percent because our kids need this.”
Valerie Pellegrino, another coach for the club, said there are a lot of volunteers and the fundraiser helps pay for expenses when going to meets.
But Pellegrino added there is a desperate need for a new pool to replace what they have now.
“This is the only 25-yard pool in Cape Coral. It’s run by Lee County. The building was here long before we were, the bathrooms are gross, there’s one shower and the office is for equipment,” Pellegrino said. “We can’t run a meet like a high school meet because they can’t dive off the blocks. They have to start in the water. The FHSAA has not certified the pool because the first two lanes are too shallow.”
Sophie Pellegrino, who has finished her 200 laps and was relaxing, agreed. She said a new pool would help her and her teammates competitively.
“We are at a big disadvantage training, especially during the long-course season in the summer. All the teams we compete against have the bigger pools and are used to that length while we’re still in this small pool,” Sophie said. “We went to Port Charlotte a lot for that.”
Tedhams said the cost for an Olympic-sized pool is about $7 million. Such a pool would not only serve to train for the long-course season, but the 25-meter width can help nearly all Cape Coral schools train for the high school season in one large swath.