Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Youth Sports topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Calvert Aquatics Club urges county to limit Hall pool closure to protect athletes and sanctioned meets
Summary
Calvert Aquatics Club leaders and parents told commissioners the proposed five‑month closure risks lost meet sanctioning, coach and athlete development, and economic impact; they urged scheduling, partnership with nearby facilities and expedited timelines.
Representatives of the Calvert Aquatics Club (CAC) told the board the Edward T. Hall Aquatic Center is essential to year‑round training for roughly 160 swimmers and warned that prolonged closure could jeopardize sanctioned meets and athlete development.
CAC president Stacy Lagana said the club "fully support[s] the renovation" but stressed the financial and competitive risks: she told commissioners that forfeiting sanctioned meets could cause more than $120,000 in lost net income over two seasons and could lead Maryland Swimming to reassign statewide meets elsewhere. "It's imperative that facility be open for a swim meet on November 2026," Lagana said, and she requested the club be part of scheduling decisions.
Parents and coaches echoed those concerns. Cora Limbote, whose daughter progressed from county lessons to competitive swimming, urged the county to "find every way you can to minimize the time this facility is closed and everything you can to maximize the time that other facilities are available." Limbote also reminded the board that "By USA swimming rules, we cannot have kids in the water if the water is less than 78 degrees," a constraint that complicates outdoor alternatives in shoulder months.
Club head coach Ed Collin invited commissioners to observe practices and emphasized rapid program growth (from roughly 120 to 160 swimmers in about a year) and the club's role supplying lifeguards and instructors. Commissioners and staff committed to targeted outreach, exploring agreements with nearby facilities including the naval recreational center, and prioritizing scheduling and communications with club leadership.
