THE SEMINOLE AQUATICS STORY

The Seminole Aquatics swim team was formed by Head Coach Tony Ackerson in May of 2000, following the completion of the Larry A. Dale Aquatic Center, a $1.2 million Olympic-size pool located on the campus of Seminole High School. Coach Ackerson had served as the Seminole High varsity swimming coach since 1987, and while the team had considerable success through the 1990's (a girl’s 50 free state champion, three high school All-Americans and three consecutive top-15 state team finishes), the team still lacked the age group feeder program necessary for consistent, championship-level success.

The drive to put a pool on campus began in earnest in 1996 when Coach Ackerson, along with a group of committed swim team parents, and local swim lesson icon "Miss Jackie" Caolo, began meeting to develop a strategy for obtaining a facility.  With the help of Sanford City Commissioner Whitey Eckstein and Mayor Larry A. Dale, $500,000 was pledged to the project, and then matched by the Seminole County Commission.  The Seminole County School Board donated the land on the SHS campus, and the pool was completed in January of 2000, with Coach Ackerson named as the City's first Aquatics Director.

Beginning with just one swimmer in May 2000, the club has grown substantially and has produced several National qualifiers, countless Florida Age Group and Senior State Championship qualifiers, multiple Florida Age Group Champions, Florida Swimming individual and relay Record Holders, over 90 High School All-Americans, several nationally ranked Top 10 swimmers, two National #1 swimmers, and a U.S. Olympic Trials qualifiers. 

During this time, Seminole High School's swimming and water polo teams have benefited greatly, winning multiple individual and relay state swimming titles and two State team runner-up finishes, in addition to winning boys and girls Conference, District and Regional team titles, District and Regional water polo titles and multiple State Final Four Water Polo tournament berths.  With a foundation of talented, positive coaches, and one of the best swimming facilities in Central Florida, Seminole Aquatics has emerged as one of the premier programs in the state.

Despite the track record of great individual and team athletic achievement, the REAL story of Seminole Aquatics is the commitment to foster relationships and build a love of the sports that we coach.  We want the young people that we mentor to build healthy bodies and healthy minds, while creating fun, happy memories of their time with us that will last a lifetime.  

THIS is what we do!