Raytown's swim team is asking for help. They don't have a pool to practice in this summer. For more than 50 years, the Woodson Sharks have practiced at the pool in Woodson Estates. But this summer, their homeowners association voted to keep the pool closed. They posted on their website that they were lacking funds and many repairs. Now, the swim team, which is made up of about 70 families, is looking for funds to bring water back to Woodson Estates. “There's a lot of passion for swimming here,” says coach Melanie Newton. “This place has history and heart, and a drive to excel and succeed.” Newton started swimming with the Sharks when she was 5 years old. Now she coaches the team with former coach Jim Aziere. She says the facility was in better shape at one time, but the team has brought it back to life. “It opened in the '60s and was built to be a pool that would last 25 years, and it's actually still functioning today. “We can't open it now because of a lack of funding. It's really unacceptable,” Newton said. “We're passionate about this pool, we're attached to it, and we always say this little wobbly pool is special to us,” Newton said. The team has a tradition of success. In the past three years, the team has been to three championships and gone undefeated two years in a row. “All I want is for these kids to have the same opportunities I had,” Woodson Sharks alumnus Luke Markley said. “This was a place where you could come, feel safe, have fun,” said swim team parent Will Mata. “If you want to get kids off the streets, this is a great opportunity to do something practical to help them grow,” said swim team parent Will Mata. “Please help us get our kids back in the water. Please help us.” The team has set up a GoFundMe to help the HOA with funding. Newton said he's always appreciated the support from the HOA and wants to help reopen the pool. “We will miss the camaraderie of families this season and the joy of our neighborhood pool that opened this year,” Jeremy Shell, president of the Woodson Estates HOA, said in an emailed statement, adding that they hope to reopen in 2025, funding permitting.
The Raytown swim team is asking for help — they don't have a pool to practice in this summer.
The Woodson Sharks have practiced at the pool at Woodson Estates for more than 50 years, but this summer their homeowners association voted to keep the pool closed.
They posted on their website that they were short on funds and needed many repairs.
Now, the swim team, made up of about 70 families, is trying to raise funds to bring water back to Woodson Estates.
“There's a lot of passion for swimming here,” coach Melanie Newton said. “This place has history and heart and a drive for excellence and success.”
Newton began swimming with the Sharks at age 5 and currently coaches the team alongside former coach Jim Aziere.
She said the facility used to be more vibrant, but it's the team that makes it vibrant.
“It opened in the '60s and was built to be a 25-year pool and it's actually still functional, and now we can't open it because of funding issues, which is really hard to accept,” Newton said. “We're passionate about this pool and we're attached to it and we always say this rickety little pool is very special to us.”
Newton said the team has a tradition of success: In the past three years, the team has gone to three championships and gone undefeated two years in a row.
“All I want is for these kids to have the same opportunities that I had,” Woodson Sharks alumnus Luke Markley said. “It was a place where anyone could come. It was a place where they could feel safe and have fun.”
“If you want to get kids off the streets, this is a great opportunity to do something practical to help them develop,” swim club parent Will Mata said. “Help us get kids back in the water. Please help us.”
The team has set up a GoFundMe to help the HOA with funds, and Newton said they're always grateful for the support they receive from the HOA and want to help get the pool reopened.
“We will miss the camaraderie of families this season and the joy of our neighborhood pool opening this year,” Jeremy Shell, president of the Woodson Estates HOA, said in an emailed statement. Funding permitting, the group hopes to reopen in 2025.
