The City of Mason Manta Rays competitive swim team is a USA Swimming Gold Medal Club that has garnered incredible acclaim, most recently sending 13 swimmers to the Olympic trials.
They train in a 25-meter pool inside the Mason Community Center, half the standard competition length of 50 meters. A 50-meter pool would be a gamechanger for training for competition endurance and helping team members qualify for the Olympics.
The Benefits of a Bigger Pool
A coalition of swim parents, community leaders and supportive neighbors have come together, realizing that adding a 50-meter pool to the Mason Municipal Aquatic Center would have a ripple effect of positive impacts.
“Three years ago, a unique opportunity presented itself when the City of Mason needed to upgrade their outdoor aquatic center,” explains Kathy Fish, chair of the A Matter of 50 Meters committee and a member of the USA Swimming Board of Directors. “We agreed to partner to go a step further than the City had planned and upgrade the outdoor 25-meter facility to an Olympic caliber indoor 50-meter pool. A Matter of 50 Meters agreed to fundraise to cover the incremental cost of $5M.”
The committee’s efforts have quickly become a community project. An economic impact study estimated the pool could bring in $2.4 million each year due to increased visitors for competitions who stay in hotels, visit restaurants and engage with Mason businesses.
The City of Mason was already committed to building a culture of wellness in the community, and expanding the aquatics offerings gives everyone more access to excellent, year-round programs that will teach residents of every generation how to be safe in the water.
Swimming for Success
Mason Manta Rays’ parents and A Matter of 50 Meters committee members like Ainslie and Nick Gordon have noticed a commitment to goal-oriented growth, leadership and self-confidence emerging in their daughter since she joined the team.
She and other Mason Manta Rays have grown up swimming under the excellent leadership of head coaches Ken Heis and Todd Billhimer. Their efforts help them rank in the top 1% of USA Swimming teams, while building swimmers who are strong in the pool and in life.
“The Mason Manta Rays have been successful because of how they coach the kids to be well-rounded, making sure every swimmer is trained on every stroke,” says Nick. “They know the technique before they go fast.”
In addition to supporting the City’s mission, the enclosed 50-meter pool and Mason Community Center competition pool means the potential for more pool time for each swimmer and a larger Mason Manta Rays team roster. Ultimately, this allows more local young people to benefit from the team’s winning approach to competitive swimming.
Exciting Progress and Future Plans
Kathy reports that the committee has raised $1.14 million of their 5 million dollar goal.
“We are excited about the number of individuals supporting us from the community, the team, and the alumni,” says Kathy. “Our focus now is to broaden our reach and to find individuals or corporations who are interested in naming rights, which are available for the Mason Municipal Aquatic Center, the event complex and the enclosed 50-meter pool.”
The committee is also celebrating the generous $50,000 they’ve received from the José Cerdá Aquatic Foundation, and a Mason Manta Rays alumni family who has created a $250,000 matching gift.
June saw a flurry of activity, with an Olympic Trials watch party at Sonder Brewing, as well as a Swimathon, where more than $30,000 was raised by Mason Manta Rays swimmers.
“This is exciting because now the kids can be part of the fundraising,” says Ainslie. “This lets them feel that they are helping to build the pool too.”
In upcoming months, the campaign will benefit from a golf outing as well as the José Cerdá Aquatic Foundation Gala, to be held on August 14th. Additional fundraising events are in development, and anyone interested in contributing or getting involved can learn more at AMatterof50Meters.org.
It’s no wonder that so many community members are ready to dive in - the enclosed 50-meter facility is under construction and anticipated to be completed in late 2021.