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Water Sharks make a splash with first meet at new YMCA aquatic facility
Water Sharks host first home meet in nearly a decade at new YMCA pool, drawing excitement from swimmers and the community
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WASHINGTON — The Washington YMCA shut down to regular gym patrons Saturday, Jan. 25, as swim teams from Oskaloosa, Waterloo, Davenport, and Muscatine joined the Washington Water Sharks for their first home meet in nearly a decade.
The newly opened aquatic facility at the Washington YMCA drew spectators and competitors eager to experience its state-of-the-art design, a long-awaited upgrade for the community. The event marked a significant milestone for the Water Sharks, who had been unable to host a home meet for years due to their previous pool’s limitations.
For nearly 10 years, the Water Sharks relied almost entirely on travel to compete, as their outdated facility failed to meet regulation standards. Samantha Van Houten, YMCA aquatics manager and head coach of the Water Sharks, reflected on the challenges the team faced.
“We’ve been traveling every Saturday during swim season for years,” Van Houten said. “Our old pool was too short, so we couldn’t get official times. It was tough on the kids because they’d get tired during meets in regulation pools, where they weren’t used to the full distance.”
“And then, the butterfly, which is my main event, was created, like, six years after the old pool was made. So, they did not account for that at all,” Water Sharks swimmer Clyde Johnson explained. “Because you spread out more, you have to have six-foot wide lanes because your wingspan from finger to finger is your height. So, people would be doing [the butterfly], and they would hit their arms on the sides, which I've done, and it hurts. It’s so much better now.”
The new YMCA pool, which meets USA Swimming standards, is a game-changer. With a 25-yard pool and modern amenities, it offers a vastly improved experience for swimmers, coaches, and spectators alike. The facility also boasts enhanced starting blocks with textured grips, which Johnson described as essential for a good push and strong start to each race.
“The old ones we had were plastic, but you know, they were made a while ago, so, it’s fine. They worked,” he said. “But these new ones have like a sandpaper, like texture at the top. It's almost like sharp on your feet. So, it may not feel good to some, but for a swimmer, you want to make sure that you have good grip, because you don't want your foot to slip behind you.”
The meet attracted a packed crowd, filling the pool’s bleachers and beyond. Diana Rich, whose son Dalton swim with the Water Sharks, appreciated the home crowd’s energy.
“It’s really cool having family and friends be able to come support and watch,” Rich said. “Usually, we had to go quite a way for meets.”
Van Houten echoed the sentiment, noting the enthusiastic turnout.
“It was great for the community to see the facility and for returning teams to see the transformation,” she said. “Some of them remembered our old pool and were blown away by the difference.”
Swim Sharks coach Terra Hubler readily expressed her praise for the new facility.
“This is wonderful,” Hubler said. “Super exciting. We’ve been waiting for this forever, and all our other teams have been waiting to come here forever.”
Nicole Sexton, whose daughter Casey swims with the team, also praised the upgrade saying, “It’s so much better with so much more space.”
Her older daughter, Chloe, a former swimmer, added, “The pool is awesome.”
The meet saw impressive performances, including some state-qualifying times from the Water Sharks. Van Houten highlighted the importance of the first event, the grueling 400 Individual Medley (IM).
“We had two kids from other teams swim it, and it was during that event that we got the first one under our belt,” she said. “After that, it was a relief, and everything went smoothly.”
With limited practice time available in this facility before the meet, Johnson felt excited to nearly match his personal best in the 100-butterfly event
“I was only 16 hundredths of a second slower than my best last year,” Johnson said.
Additionally, Johnson says he felt like his endurance has already improved with the new facility and he sees the same in his teammates.
“Our endurance has shot up,” he said. “Almost all of us have cut time this year, and the pool hasn’t even been open for a quarter of the swim season.”
Before the new facility opened, Van Houten says the team had to adjust to different swim lane lengths every time they traveled.
“Now, we get consistent training and better preparation for meets,” she said.
After a successful first meet, Van Houten couldn’t say enough about the vital role parent volunteers and the YMCA staff played in making the event successful.
According to Van Houten, parents ensured the event ran smoothly by taking on responsibilities such as timing, running the concession stand, and managing the clerk of course.
“Our parents were amazing,” she said. “They all came together and helped out tremendously. We made sure they could swap spots to watch their kids compete, and it was great to see everyone pitch in.”
The collaborative effort from families and staff underscored the strong sense of community within the Water Sharks program, making the milestone event even more meaningful.
For Van Houten, the journey to this milestone has been rewarding.
“Finally, being able to have a pool that works for everything — whether it’s swim team, lap swim, or lessons — has been a journey for sure, but it was so worth it,” she said. “I’m excited to host more meets next season and see the program grow.”
As the Water Sharks close the chapter on their first home meet, they look ahead to building on their momentum in a facility that has already transformed their swimming experience.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com
