Pro Volleyball Club Requests Answers From Sedalia Park Board

The Sedalia Park Board heard from a group of volleyball coaches and players wanting to use the Heckart Community Center for weekly practice sessions, but were told the schedule is already full.

A group calling itself Missouri Pro Volleyball Club, and led by Leonardo Bilitardo, an assistant volleyball coach from Missouri Valley College in Marshall, says he and his coaches are former professional volleyball players and offer higher level coaching to members.

The mission of his business is to help students secure college sports scholarships.

“We’re not here to compete … we’re not here to cause trouble” Bilitardo told the Park Board, adding that he tried to appeal the decision of the board reference what he called “termination.”

“We’ve been practicing here once a week from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., usually on a Friday,” he said.

“I definitely appreciate all that you have done for us,” Bilitardo told Sedalia Parks & Rec Director Amy Epple.

Another speaker, Jessica Southard urged cooperation. “Let’s work together to solve this problem,” she told Park Board members. “So instead of sitting here talking about these clauses …what can we do to help these kids? What’s not to stop our program from us purchasing individual passes to this facility, then saying okay we’re going to meet here at 6:30 on a Thursday night and we’re going to play volleyball on the court? What’s to say you can’t stop us? These kids need something to keep them out of trouble, I firmly believe that. And having something like this in our community is amazing. This facility houses and serves such a great purpose. There are people who come from Marshall, Warrensburg, everywhere. This is a huge place … let’s keep the kids in focus. It’s not about me, it’s not about parents, it’s not about coaches. It’s about these kids. So let’s find a solution. We’ve been practicing here on a Friday. It’s not been an issue. The busiest part in this place is the pool on a Friday night,” Southard said.

In her response, Epple noted that “we are always looking for more coaches so that we can take more people. Their coaches are welcome come to apply and be a part of it … we are trying to work together. It’s just that there’s a limit of space in what we can do and be able to grow.”

Epple added that it is doable. “I definitely feel like if there’s a will, there’s a way,” she concluded.

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Coach and Barber Tyrese Tyler also spoke to the board during a 25-minute good and welfare session. He said a need exists for a girls basketball team. “Nobody’s trying to compete. We’re just trying to give every kid a fair shot.”

Tyler noted that “my whole family has a membership here. And we can’t practice here? All I care about is watching my daughter grow up and be the best little girl she can be. My son, also. He plays football and basketball.”

Southard later asked about Convention Hall.

Epple explained to here that multiple programs are already booked there, including gymnastics, tumbling, dance, and a variety of special programs as well.

In other Park Board news, the board agreed to a five-year extension of the Sedalia Senior Center’s contract with the Heckart Center. The normal extension time frame is three years (the Senior Center is three years old), but Caring Connection requested it be extended to five.

It was noted that the cost is $2,000 per month.

The request will now go to City Council at its next meeting, which is April 21.

Parks & Rec also hopes to hire another private swim instructor. Swim lessons are available as a larger class, but a private teacher offers way more one-on-one instruction.

After the meeting, most board members toured Liberty Park Stadium for a progress report. It was noted that the contractor is expected be completely finished by May 22.

The Sedalia Park Board meets again May 8 at 5:30 p.m.