Frisco Aquatics says it is the fastest growing USA Swimming club in the country – and it’s facing growing pains.
“During practice, we usually have at least six [swimmers] per lane,” said coach and PR director Katy Motzinger.
Motzinger says that is double an ideal capacity.
To the young swimmers, some of whom are in the pool six days a week for at least two hours per day, the tight space becomes a safety concern.
“I’ve been kicked in the face, I’ve been stabbed in the face with hands because we don’t have enough room at all,” said Frisco eighth grader Ashleigh Smith.
Over the past two to three years, the club says it has grown by 163-percent. Now, more than 400 swimmers participate in team activities, but most of the time, they share a pool with Frisco ISD.
The club says they’re losing time in the lanes because the Frisco high school program is growing as well, which means some swimmers also commute to McKinney to another facility, swim until the late evening, or have to cancel practices altogether during scheduling conflicts.
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“We’re in the car all the time,” said parent Debbie Massman. “You’re finding ten-year-olds here until 8:45. That’s very late for them.”
However, the team is starting a new drive, called “Fill the Pool”. Their goal is to raise $4 million to build a new facility at Cotton Gin and Legacy Drive with a new 50 meter pool and a warm water pool for lessons.
“The big thing here is sponsorships,” said coach Daniel McDonough. “We’re not asking for handouts.”
McDonough says they would even pay back low interest loans and believes, while the facility would be privately funded, it would benefit the public and host other events not related to Frisco Aquatics.
The group will maintain the leases on the space they already occupy, but say more space is necessary to keep up with their elite pool of talent.
Supporters hope the project can move forward in the next year or two.
