Swim Team Information 

We have two parts to our swim team. Our Special Needs/Neurodivergent swimmers that practice on Mondays and Wednesday, and our Neurotypical/Financial Needs swimmers that practice Mondays through Fridays. They each have separate requirements to be able to join the team. Our swim team program spans grades 1-12 provided they meet all the necessary requirements mentioned below.

To be part of the Special Needs group the swimmer needs to have a documented divergency that is debilitating in any way, or a physical disability. Some examples are, Autism, Downs Syndrome, Spina Bifida, or other diversities. They also need to be able to swim 25 yards without stopping and without touching the bottom or sides of the pool.

To be part of our Neurotypical/Financial Needs group, the parent of the swimmer needs to present proof of low income, such as proof of EBT, proof of free/reduced lunch in school, etc. and also be able to swim 25 yards across the pool.

If your swimmer meets one of the group requirements you can bring him or her in any Wednesday at 4:45 pm for a swim test. No appointment is needed. Just come in any Wednesday ready to test. One of the coaches at the pool will give the swim test. We practice at the Salvation Army Pool located at 1501 Nth Q. Street which is off of Pace Blvd.

Once the swim test has been passed they are on the team. There is no charge to be part of the team and after two weeks of coming to practices they will receive their first swimsuit, goggles, swim cap, and t-shirt for free. 

SEASTARS has an incentive program that allows the swimmers to earn points that they can use towards additional swim gear as they need it. We have two separate teams that practice with different schedules.

Our ​Special Needs team ​practices on Mondays and Wednesdays. They have three different times for practice depending on which group the swimmer is placed with. Those times are 3:30, 4:00, or 4:30.

Our ​Financial Needs team​ meets Monday-Friday. Beginners practice from 5:00-6:15 and our advanced team practice from 5:00-7:00.

Ways to earn points are attendance, sportsmanship, meeting swim goals, and community service, which are planned as often as possible. Examples of Community Service are maintaining the pool deck, helping with community cleanup, and participating during our Community Service events.

To participate in swim meets that we have throughout the year the swimmer must attend at least two practices per week.

MEET OUR SWIM TEAM COACHES

Gracie Miller

Assistant Director/Head Coach

My name is Gracie Miller and I have been a part of SEASTARS since I was 10 years old. I started coaching the Special Needs Swim Team when I was sixteen, showing a passion for the children and people who seemed misunderstood by the world outside of the pool.
Once I aged out of the swim program myself, I started coaching the novice swimmers on our financial needs program. I have been vaccinated and booster-ed for COVID-19. I have coached every age group that we offer, from doing lessons with infants, to the advanced swimmers in lane one.
In the last few months I have been granted the opportunity to take over most of the responsibilities that come with running our nonprofit! SEASTARS will always be part of me, and I am looking forward to growing up with it in the next few years, as I have most of my life now!

Dolon Babcock

Swim Team Coach

Dolon started taking swim lessons when he was seven years old. Now, after ten years of lessons and then graduating over the the swim team, he is coaching swimmers on the Financial Needs Swim Team.

Personal Note: “SEASTARS has helped me a lot with my social skills as a person with autism. 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!”

Savannah Atchley

Swim Team Coach

I started having a passion for swim when I was in the 8th grade. I swam for SEASTARS not long after that when my middle school coach had us swim with the team. When I aged out, I missed being by the pool and I started wondering how I could give back to the team that helped me through the harder times of my life. I decided I would love to be able to teach and share that passion with the younger generation.

I am looking forward to adding a few more years with the team that made me who I am today. 

 

2024-2025 Team Schedule

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