REMEMBERING COACH SUE ACAMPORA

THE LADY IN THE WATER

"Sue truly loved all things swimming, and cared deeply for her students and community. Words cannot express how proud I am of Sue. I have personally never seen her level of selflessness and commitment. She was a one of a kind treasure and I will never forget."

- Sue's Husband

Coach Sue Acampora: The Lady in the Water

Coach Sue Acampora passed away on February 11, 2022, leaving behind a legacy that continues to shape swimming throughout Winston-Salem, Kernersville, and beyond. Better known as The Lady in the Water, Sue was much more than a coach, instructor, or lifeguard—she was a cornerstone of our swimming community.

Over the course of more than two decades, Sue taught and influenced thousands of swimmers. From first swim lessons to high school championships, there was scarcely a corner of the sport she didn't touch. Her impact can still be seen in the athletes, coaches, and families she inspired.

When Enfinity Aquatic Club began as a USA Masters Swimming program at Wake Forest University in 2011, Coach Sue was there from the start. She served as a leader, mentor, lifeguard, and trusted friend. Whether covering a practice, supporting a swimmer, or sharing stories over Friday morning team breakfasts, Sue was always present. She had a gift for bringing people together and making everyone feel welcome.

As the head coach of Parkland High School Swimming from 2011 to 2022, Sue played an instrumental role in building one of the area's strongest programs. Her dedication earned her Conference Coach of the Year honors in 2018. That same season, all 18 members of her team qualified for Regionals, with 10 advancing to the State Championships. Few people could speak about their swimmers with as much pride and enthusiasm as Coach Sue.

Her influence extended far beyond competitive swimming. As a swim instructor, Sue devoted countless hours to helping children gain confidence and safety in the water. She worked with programs throughout the community, including the W.G. White YMCA, YWCA, Long Creek, Westwood Swim & Tennis Club, First Christian Church, and Enfinity Aquatic Club. At Enfinity, she helped build and shape the Aqua Farm program, introducing hundreds of young swimmers to the sport she loved.

If you learned to swim in Winston-Salem or Kernersville over the last decade, chances are you spent time in the water with Coach Sue.

When local high school diving programs needed leadership, Sue stepped forward once again. Serving as Forsyth County Dive Coach from 2017 to 2019, she provided coaching and mentorship for divers from schools across the county. Athletes from multiple programs came together under her guidance, a testament to the respect she earned throughout the community.

In her final season, Sue served as lead lifeguard, water fitness instructor, and head of swim lessons at First Christian Church. Even in her last months, she remained committed to helping others develop confidence, skills, and a love for the water.

It is impossible to fully measure Coach Sue's impact on Enfinity Aquatic Club. Quite simply, there would be no Enfinity without her. In the early years of the program, whenever a practice needed coverage, Sue stepped in. Whenever help was needed, Sue was there. Her generosity, reliability, and unwavering support helped lay the foundation upon which Enfinity was built.

To honor her legacy, Enfinity Aquatic Club and the Triad Amateur Swim Association (TASA) remain committed to the mission that was so important to her: teaching children to swim and making our community safer in and around the water.

Each year on February 11, Enfinity will make a $2,000 donation through TASA in Coach Sue's honor. These funds will help provide swim lessons to children who might not otherwise have access to them—a cause that was deeply meaningful to Sue throughout her life.

The Lady in the Water may no longer be with us, but her impact lives on in every swimmer she taught, every coach she mentored, and every child who gains confidence in the water because of the path she helped create.



Her legacy continues every time a child learns to swim.