Swimmers go the distance to support proposed indoor aquatic facility
August 22, 2026
A dozen swimmers spent Saturday morning pushing through an hour-long swimming challenge to raise money for a proposed indoor aquatic facility in Colby.
The Aug. 22 fundraiser at the Colby Aquatic Center benefited Western Kansas Aquatics, a nonprofit organization formed earlier this summer. Although plans remain in the early stages, the group hopes to raise enough money to build a multimillion-dollar indoor swimming facility in the community.
Ten young swimmers and coaches LeAnna Soehner and Jordan Bacon completed a combined 23,550 meters during the one-hour event. Some participants collected pledges ranging from $1 to $3.50 for each length of the pool, while others received flat-rate donations for completing the challenge.
Several swimmers set goals of completing 50 or more lengths. They used different strokes, briefly treaded water to rest tired muscles and, in some cases, relied on the buddy system to break up the monotony of the demanding hour.
Parents watched from the pool deck, recording the swimmers’ progress and encouraging them as they worked toward a goal extending beyond the morning’s competition.
The fundraiser had generated $14,280 in donations as of Saturday, according to Kara Kuhlman. Contributions are still being accepted through PayPal or Venmo under “Western KS Aquatics.”
Details about the proposed facility were not yet available. Organizers are still exploring what it would take to make the project a reality, including its potential economic and community benefits.
An indoor pool could provide year-round opportunities for recreation, swimming instruction and competitive events. It could also potentially serve Colby Community College, local schools and visitors coming to town for aquatic competitions.
Whether Colby needs an indoor swimming facility will likely be part of the community discussion as planning moves forward. For now, however, Western Kansas Aquatics has a dedicated group of swimmers, parents and organizers willing to put in the work—and Saturday’s swimmers demonstrated that commitment one length at a time.
More information is available through the Western KS Aquatics Facebook page or by contacting board president LeAnna Soehner.