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Pensacola SEASTARS Aquatics help kids of all backgrounds dive into swimming.
SWIMMER TESTIMONIES
The Salvation Army swimming pool on Q Street is just water. Anyone can get in. Black and white kids. You’ll find kids with Down syndrome, autism and other physical and mental challenges, swimming next to kids whose main challenge is being able to afford such a pool and program. You’d think all programs would be so equitable, but that’s not the reality. Troy Moon/Pensacola News Journal
“We have so many success stories and I think a big one is how our swimmers grow and they go through the program,” Robin Heller – Founder
Malik Capell, 14, is one of the SEASTARS team’s top swimmers, recently competing in numerous sanctioned swimming events.
“I love this program,” said the East Hill Christian School eighth-grade student, who hopes to swim on the West Florida High School swim team next year after starting at SEASTARS when he was 8 years old. “I didn’t know how to swim when I started, now I feel I’m going places with swimming.”
He said he’s learned more than just swimming as part of the SEASTARS team. Like Miller, he’s learned much about those with physical and mental challenges.
“The coaches care for them and show them they have the ability to do different things,” said Malik, who has been raised by his grandparents. “I think it takes courage for the kids who have a disability to get out there and do it and show they can do things. It inspires me.”
“We have so many success stories and I think a big one is how our swimmers grow and they go through the program,” Heller said. “Like I said earlier, just seeing the swimmers who are coaches now is special.”
One of those coaches is 17-year-old, almost 18, Dolon Babcock, a Tate High junior with autism.
“I started doing lessons when I was 7 and now after 10 years I’m coaching,” he said. “SEASTARS has helped me a lot on my social skills as an autistic person. You learn to be a great swimmer, but you also learn to be kind and caring to your teammates and coaches. I like it a lot.”
SEASTARS Aquatics has been filled with inspiring young people and stories since its inception. One recent success ‒ and we’re talking on the international level ‒ is that of SEASTARS swimmer Emma Meyers, 17, a Booker T. Washington High senior and para-athlete who recently signed a scholarship offer to attend the Colorado Mesa University Division II powerhouse triathlon team.
Emma, who had her right ankle amputated shortly after her adoption from China at age 2, is also one of the top para-triathletes in the world and is expected to qualify for the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympics later this summer.