About

Vision Statement

To promote and foster the success and growth of children who are economically, physically, and mentally challenged by providing individualized attention as a part of a structured competitive swim team program. To improve the quality of life for challenged children by developing successful student-athlete skills. These skills help aid their pursuit of higher education and achievement of life goals.

History and Mission Statement

SEASTARS is an acronym that stands for Supporting Education and Athletic Skills Through Amature and Recreational Swimming

SEASTARS Aquatics is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and fostering the safety, success, and growth of children who are economically, physically and/or mentally challenged by providing individualized attention and education as a part of a structured competitive swim team program.

Programs span grades 1-12, with performance-appropriate curriculum designed to teach the skills necessary to prepare swimmers for key competitions. Within each program, SEASTARS educates swimmers on issues such as proper nutrition, healthy lifestyles and the negative effects of drug use. All programs are designed to keep the coach / swimmer ratio at a minimum.

SEASTARS is an incentive-based program in which children have a chance to earn their own equipment and swim gear through five basic areas of reward: sportsmanship, meeting or exceeding personal goals, academics, attendance, and community service. 

SEASTARS is offered as a year-round United States (USA) swim team and mentoring program. The team practices are held at The Salvation Army, North “Q” St., Pensacola and any child that qualifies for free/reduced lunch and/or has Special Needs is eligible to participate. Tryouts are every Wednesday at 4:45pm.

Utilizing swimming as a vehicle to accomplish this goal, our programs are offered at no cost to the children or their parents. SEASTARS provides insurance on the pool deck and in the water, in addition to all expenses associated with swimming, such as suits, caps, goggles, and t-shirts. 

SEASTARS is the first program of its kind in the United States, SEASTARS has grown 625% since we opened our doors in 2005. We believe that our mission to introduce competitive swimming to children with mental and economical needs is an important one—and not just because swimming is an important lifesaving skill. Competitive swimming teaches children goal setting, responsibility, time management, the importance of nutrition, and fosters a love of physical fitness. For children with special needs, swimming is an important therapy, helping them gain balance and coordination, improve movement, overcome anxiety, and gain confidence. SEASTARS fosters an inclusive atmosphere and teaches acceptance of all children, regardless of disability or economic status. 42% of Caucasian, 70% of African-American and 60% of Hispanic children cannot swim nationally. Drowning is the 2nd leading cause of child accidental death. On average 9 people die from drowning in the US daily. In September 2019 Coach Robin Heller was honored with The National USA Swimming Disability Swimming Service Award. The purpose of this award was to recognize significant contributions over several years by an individual or group to the inclusion of swimmers with a disability in USA Swimming programs or in the sport of swimming.

There were 352,528 USA Swimming registered athletes in 2019; SEASTARS had 88 swimmers registered in 2019. SEASTARS is composed of 27.27% African-American, 15.9% Mixed races, and 4.5% Hispanic swimmers. According to USA Swimming statistics, SEASTARS services 25.94% MORE African-Americans, 9.85% MORE Mixed races, and 1% MORE Hispanics. SEASTARS was also comprised of 36.36% or 32 Special Needs swimmers. We are the ONLY team in the country with demographics that provide the program for free. For the 2019 season, 75% of SEASTARS swimmers were at or below the poverty line which means that SEASTARS, a program that is free for all swimmers, introduces swimming to children who might otherwise be unable to participate due to financial limitations.

SEASTARS is made possible through donations from caring individuals and Private and Semi-Private Swim Lessons. This community support has a positive impact on ALL our youth. We value our relationships with each of our supporters, donors and sponsors.

We would like to personally invite you to review our updated website and scroll through our story. We have a new Gallery Page with media likes to familiarize you with our programs. Meet our Staff and Coaches on The Swim Lesson page and set up your lessons today! The Team Schedule is always updated, and we have a great Sponsor page with various sponsorship opportunities. Thank you for supporting SEASTARS. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter through social media.

Thank you for visiting our website and your interest in SEASTARS. We also invite you to join us at practice. If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to call (850)418-0644 or (850) 418-0645.

Team Picture

Men's Swim Records 2019

StrokeDistance8 and Younger9 - 1011 - 1213 - 1415 and Older
Freestyle 25 ydsMalik Capell
:17.75
7/21/18
Malik Capell
:14.67
11/2219
Efrain Diaz
:13.02
7/17/19
DD Blankenship
:11.55
6/15/13
Jawone "DD" Blankenship
:09.79
7/10/16
Freestyle 50 ydsMalik Capell
:35.02
11/18/18
Malik Capell
:32.09
11/22/19
Efrain Diaz
:28.78
7/27/19
Will Rosasco
:24.48
5/14/11
Jawone "DD" Blankenship
:22.56
3/4/16
Freestyle 100 ydsMalik Capell
1:21.49
11/18/18
Malik Capell
1:13.09
11/22/19
Dolon Babcock
1:05.15
12/1/18
Will Rosasco
:55.11
2/19/11
Will Walden
:50.61
6/1/19
Freestyle 200 ydsMalik Capell
2:50.08
11/18/18
Malik Capell
2:43.54
11/22/19
Dolon Babcock
2:22.59
5/4/19
Clay Taylor
2:05.97
6/13/11
Clay Taylor
2:00.82
2/18/12
Freestyle 500 ydsDolon Babcock
8:09.41
1/13/17
Dolon Babcock
7:04.41
11/18/18
Clay Taylor
5:43.84
6/13/11
Clay Taylor
5:26.97
11/01/13
Freestyle1000 ydsDolon Babcock
14:40.82
5/4/19
Dolon Babcock
13:05.81
1/17/20
Freestyle 1650 ydsDolon Babcock
24:01.63
5/4/19
Dolon Babcock
22:07.26
2/14/20
Clay Taylor
19:24.12
2/2/13
Backstroke 25 ydsCameron Watts
:22.83
8/10/13
Malik Capell
:18.13
11/22/19
Efrain Diaz
:16.21
7/17/19
William Flores
:14.46
7/17/19
Will Walden
:13.32
7/17/19
Backstroke 50 ydsMalik Capell
:42.41
11/18/18
Malik Capell
:38.37
1/17/20
Kody White
:35.13
12/10/05
Will Rosasco
:29.13
6/10/11
Ryan Mayall
:28.68
7/25/09
Backstroke 100 ydsEvan Hunley
2:15.08
11/17/17
Malik Capell
1:34.70
1/17/20
Dolon Babcock
1:20.96
10/13/18
Will Rosasco
1:00.24
2/24/11
Will Rosasco
:57.83
2/18/12
Backstroke 200 ydsDolon Babcock
4:18.80
1/30/16
Dolon Babcock
3:01.89
5/4/19
Will Rosasco
2:25.73
4/15/11
Jawone "DD" Blankenship
2:19.84
12/6/14
Breaststroke 25 ydsMalik Capell
:24.60
10/13/18
Malik Capell
:20.57
7/17/19
Efrain Diaz
17.53
7/17/19
Jawone "DD" Blankenship
:13.21
6/15/13
Will Walden
:13.45
6/1/19
Breaststroke 50 ydsMalik Capell
:51.66
11/18/18
Malik Capell
:43.92
12/7/19/19
Efrain Diaz
:38.82
6/28/19
Jawone "DD" Blankenship
:32.10
8/10/13
Will Rosasco
:30.11
1/13/12
Breaststroke 100 ydsMalik Capell
1:50.44
11/18/18
Malik Capell
1:34.70
1/17/20
Devin Gadson
1:27.22
9/19/11
Will Rosasco
1:10.96
6/3/11
Clay Taylor
1:03.22
11/5/14
Breaststroke 200 ydsDolon Babcock
5:00.04
1/30/16
Dolon Babcock
3:24.02
5/4/19
Will Rosasco
2:34.49
6/3/11
Clay Taylor
2:24.80
11/21/14
Butterfly 25 ydsMalik Capell
:22.29
10/13/18
Malik Capell
:16.85
7/27/19
Efrain Diaz
:14.20
7/17/19
Jawone "DD" Blankenship
:11.96
6/15/13
Jawone "DD" Blankenship
:11.15
7/17/19
Butterfly 50 ydsEthan Booker
1:01.74
2/22/14
Malik Capell
:40.65
12/7/19
Efrain Diaz
:31.84
6/28/19
William Rosasco
:27.40
5/14/11
Jawone "DD" Blankenship
:25.24
7/6/19
Butterfly 100 ydsMalik Capell
1:52.29
11/18/18
Malik Capell
1:38.09
1/17/20
Dolon Babcock
1:16.97
5/4/19
Clay Taylor
1:06.07
7/9/11
Jawone "DD" Blankenship
:55.47
11/18/16
Butterfly200 ydsDolon Babcock
5:57.62
1/30/16
Dolon Babcock
2:34.62
2/23/20
Clay Taylor
2:24.12
11/22/13
IM 100 ydsMalik Capell
1:43.00
10/13/18
Malik Capell
1:23.35
10/5/19
Dolon Babcock
1:14.40
5/18/19
Jawone "DD" Blankenship
1:04.83
8/10/13
Jawone "DD" Blankenship
:59.62
7/10/16
IM 200 ydsDolon Babcock
3:32.96
1/13/17
Dolon Babcock
2:55.22
10/13/18
Clay Taylor
2:20.68
6/31/11
Clay Taylor
2:13.20
11/21/14
IM 400 ydsDolon Babcock
7:56.65
6/5/16
Dolon Babcock
5:23.66
2/14/20
Clay Taylor
4:35.66
11/21/14

Women's Swim Records-2019

StrokeDistance8 and Younger9 - 1011 - 1213 - 1415 and Older
Freestyle25 ydsMakenzi Sims
:18.49
7/8/17
Kylie Nicoll
:16.50
6/20/14
Nevaeh Stevens
:12.32
7/10/16
Gracie Miller
:12.30
6/16/12
Robin Heller
:12.05
7/10/10
Freestyle50 ydsMakenzi Sims
:44.08
11/17/17
Anastasia Adams
:35.59
5/9/15
Nevaeh Stevens
:29.71
11/04/16
Nevaeh Stevens
:29.28
6/16/17
Robin Heller
:26.28
7/10/10
Freestyle100 ydsAnastasia Adams
1:37.70
2/16/13
Anastasia Adams
1:14.15
5/9/15
Anastasia Adams
1:06.82
6/2/17
Erin Davis
1:03.28
10/21/16
Erin Davis
1:00.77
10/27/17
Freestyle200 ydsKylie Nicoll
2:42.43
2/21/15
Sarah Dangerfield
2:32.68
7/6/19
Erin Davis
2:23.48
11/04/16
Erin Davis
2:13.75
10/27/17
Freestyle500 ydsEmma Meyers
7:33.09
1/13/17
Emma Meyers
6:53.62
12/15/17
Daniela Cruz
6:42.21
3/2/18
Fernanda Cruz
6:22.06
7/1/17
Freestyle1000 ydsSarah Dangerfield
12:49.60
7/6/19
Emily Davis
15:21.01
1/15/16
Backstroke25 ydsCaymond Hodge
:21.90
2/29/06
Nevaeh Stevens
:18.44
11/21/14
Sarah Dangerfield
:16.39
7/17/19
Chelsea Murphy
:17.89
9/16/10
Fernanda Cruz
:14.75
7/17/19
Backstroke50 ydsAbby Meyers
:50.80
5/5/18
Emma Meyers
:40.53
5/6/17
Nevaeh Stevens
:33.78
7/10/16
Fernanda Cruz
:33.63
6/10/16
Robin Heller
:31.09
7/10/10
Backstroke100 ydsAnastasia Adams
1:51.20
5/5/18
Emma Meyers
1:28.54
5/6/17
Sarah Dangerfield
1:20.38
6/1/19
Fernanda Cruz
1:09.80
10/21/16
Fernanda Cruz
1:05.10
11/18/18
Backstroke200 ydsSarah Dangerfield
2:55.52
11/18/18
Fernanda Cruz
2:41.21
11/04/16
Fernanda Cruz
2:28.01
11/17/17
Breaststroke25 ydsAnastasia Adams
:22.79
5/18/13
Alycia Wiggins
:22.78
6/28/19
Alaysia Wiggins
:19.38
7/17/19
Gracie Miller
:18.91
6/16/12
Robin Heller
:18.43
6/1/19
Breaststroke50 ydsAnastasia Adams
:55.59
5/11/13
Anastasia Adams
:43.41
5/9/15
Anastasia Adams
:39.96
3/3/17
Anastasia Adams
:38.59
7/8/17
Robin Heller
:36.31
7/10/10
Breaststroke100 ydsAnastasia Adams
1:56.25
5/11/13
Anastasia Adams
1:32.95
5/9/15
Anastasia Adams
1:28.66
3/3/17
Anastasia Adams
1:26.99
7/1/17
Gracie Miller
1:28.71
11/21/14
Breaststroke200 ydsChelsea Murphy
3:05.27
10/15/10
Gracie Miller
3:16.17
12/6/15
Butterfly25 ydsAnastasia Adams
:23.32
5/18/13
Alycia Wiggins
:17.92
7/27/19
Alaysia Wiggins
:16.34
7/17/19
Gracie Miller
:16.74
6/16/12
Daniela Cruz
:13.34
7/17/19
Butterfly50 ydsAnastasia Adams
:47.20
5/11/13
Anastasia Adams
:40.86
5/9/15
Fernanda Cruz
:34.34
11/21/14
Daniela Cruz
:31.71
7/21/18
Allie Lehr
:31.29
7/8/17
Butterfly100 ydsAnastasia Adams
1:47.35
5/11/13
Fernanda Cruz
1:40.86
9/15/12
Fernanda Cruz
1:22.50
11/21/14
Fernanda Cruz
1:16.59
11/04/16
Fernanda Cruz
1:10.10
6/2/18
Butterfly200 ydsFernanda Cruz
2:51.61
11/18/16
Fernanda Cruz
2:48.24
3/3/17
IM100 ydsMakenzi Sims
1:43.50
9/16/17
Kylie Nicoll
1:29.78
1/16/15
Anastasia Adams
1:20.72
5/20/17
Erin Davis
1:15.63
7/10/16
Heather Smith
1:12.87
7/11/09
IM200 yrdsAnastasia Adams
3:13.60
6/7/15
Sarah Dangerfield
2:57.94
10/5/19
Erin Davis
2:38.13
10/21/16
Fernanda Cruz
2:31.20
11/18/18
IM400 ydsEmma Meyers
7:11.02
3/3/17
Daniela Cruz
6:42.57
6/5/16
Fernanda Cruz
5:52.19
9/24/16
Fernanda Cruz
5:40.17
6/1/18