Pensacola SEASTARS Aquatics helps kids of all backgrounds dive into swimming

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.

But the reality of what happens weekly at the Salvation Army pool was the dream of Robin Heller and her husband, Chaz, from the start when 20 years ago when the founded SEASTARS Aquatics in Pensacola. SEASTARS is an acronym for Supporting Education and Athletic Skills Through Amateur and Recreational Swimming. She estimates that about 500 young people have gone through the nonprofit organization's swim program, which is open to young people with documented financial needs or who have physical and mental special needs.

"We kind of had the idea of bringing a swim team to get more minority children into the swimming pool," Robin Heller said. "It was because of the poverty in the water, and we decided to bring in the special needs population because we had experience working with special needs kids in Tallahassee. That's the beauty of the water. They're all in there together."

Heller, a Florida State University graduate, stopped her interview to talk to SEASTARS' youngest swimmer, 5-year-old Millie Roberts. Nearby, at the edges of the pool, are program coaches who started as young SEASTARS swimmers themselves. One of them is 26-year-old Gracie Miller, who started in the program when she was only 10 years old.

Now, she's stepping up as Heller retreats a bit from her role to spend more time with her husband, who is undergoing some health problems.

"I'll be stepping back and she'll be running the program," she said of Miller. "It's something I never imagined 20 years ago ‒ that the kids we were teaching would be coaching and leading the program someday. I love that progression."

The water at the Salvation Army pool was kinetic on a recent Friday as kids aged 5 to 14 swam laps and worked on stroke technique up and down the pool. Miller was eagle-eyed over the swimmers, offering encouragement and instruction.

"This program changed the trajectory of my life and helped me grow as a person," she said. "I had a single mom all my life and swim programs are very expensive. It's hard for a lot of kids in Pensacola to join a swim team. Here, we give them access and instruction. We give them a swim cap, goggles ‒ we provide all of that. But SEASTARS also taught me empathy and how not to treat people differently. It really opens your eyes to the struggles others have."

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."

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.

Related: Pensacola teen makes history as first para-athlete to sign with NCAA 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.

"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."

For more information, go to www.seastarsaquatics.org.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola SEASTARS Aquatics program gives swimming, life opportunities