EATONVILLE, Fla. – The only Historically Black College and Universities swim team competing at the Division I level paid a visit to Eatonville’s community pool on Wednesday.
Kids from Hungerford Elementary had the chance to interact with swimmers from Howard University at the community pool which recently reopened back in May.
“As the first and/or only all-black collegiate swim team in the nation, they’ve shown us what’s possible when talent meets opportunity,” said Eatonville Mayor Angie Gardner.
Not only did Gardner praise the team’s accomplishments, but she also praised them for the example they set when it comes to safe swimming.
“You’re living proof that the stigma of swimming that has befell African Americans — that stigma can be removed,” Gardner said. “That we don’t have to be afraid of water. That we can still swim, have fun and be safe.”
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After talking to kids from Hungerford and receiving the kids to the city, the team made a trip over the to the community pool.
For Howard Swim Coach Nicholas Askew, he said it reminded him of his own childhood.
“It touches my heart because unfortunately, the pool that I grew up in, in Kinston North, Carolina, they did not take the same pathway,” Askew said. “And to me, I can only think about if I wasn’t in the position that I was as a young child, to have a community center like this, where would I be?”
Isabella is also on Howard’s swim team. Much like the kids who will grow up using Eatonville’s community pool, she also grew up swimming in her community swimming pool at her local YMCA.
“I was actually tearing up, and I shed a couple of tears,” Fountain said. “It is very heartwarming to see a lot of younger kids who look like us being in our spaces, see what we do. It shows us the impact we are making in a community that we’re not even in the state. So it just meant a lot and I really hope that they feel safe in the water, and they know it’s welcome for everyone, especially people who look like us.”
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