By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
New swim blocks purchased for BCC pool
biz_slt_block_main.jpg
Barton Community College swim team members try out the on the new starting blocks at the pool, Friday, Aug. 17. Pictured are, from right: Gabriel Ozanne, Asa Unruh, Isaac Panzer, Rory Smith and Leo Olaru. Not pictured: team member Paola Noriega-Rivera. - photo by photo by Susan Thacker/Great Bend Tribune

The latest improvement to the Barton Community College swimming pool is the addition of six new starting blocks. These blocks, also called racing blocks, are the launching platforms used during training and swim meet competitions.

Until recently, swimmers launched from the same blocks that were installed when the pool was built some 48 years ago, Barton Swim Coach Jonathan Reeder said.

“The blocks we had were starting to show wear,” he said. “We had issues with rust and corrosion and the tops were very slippery.” The backstroke bars beneath the modern blocks are also safer than the old ones, because they have foam padding, he noted.


biz_slt_block_inset.jpg
The starting blocks feature the latest technology.

The Golden Belt Community Foundation purchased four of the starting blocks and Great Bend USD 428 and Barton Community College each purchased one more, for a total of six. The cost for each block, including a foot chock and the freight, was about $3,100, according to Christy Tustin, GBCF director.

Barton Vice President Mark Dean said the blocks were installed in July by BCC staff. They are ready for use as the BCC and Great Bend High School teams start their seasons.

Barton added competitive swimming to its athletic programs last year. Both the men’s and women’s teams qualified for their first ever national meet in their inaugural season. Now more Kansas colleges are adding swim teams. Having a state-of-the-art facility opens opportunities to bring more high-level college teams to Barton, Reeder said.

In addition to the Barton men’s and women’s swim teams, the pool is used by the GBHS swim teams and the Golden Belt Swim Squad.

GBHS Swim Coach Steve Beaumont said the new blocks are a welcome addition.

“Pool equipment is very expensive,” he said. “The fact that we can share the resources and all three groups can benefit from it is great.” The blocks take competition to another level, he added. “We don’t get to use this kind of blocks until we go to the state meets.”

“In college, this is kind of the standard,” Reeder said.

The BCC pool faced possible closure in 2015, until USD 428 agreed to help with some of the costs involved. 

During the same time frame, the Barton County Pool Endowment Fund and Barton County Pool Grant Fund were created through GBCF. A committee oversees how funds are used, Tustin said.

“Earlier this year the committee met to discuss any needs of the swim teams or the Barton Community College pool,” Tustin said. “The committee was advised that the starting blocks at BCC were original to the pool. The reasons for replacing the starting blocks was both safety, and to be competitive at all levels, now that BCC has swim teams.”