Honoring Coach Sue Acampora

Coach Sue Acampora: The Lady in the Water

Coach Sue passed away on February 11, 2022, leaving behind a legacy that continues to shape swimming throughout Forsyth County and beyond. Better known as The Lady in the Water, Sue was 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. She had a gift for bringing people together and making everyone feel welcome. Her impact can still be seen in the athletes, coaches, and families she inspired.

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. 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. As a swim instructor, Sue devoted countless hours to helping children gain confidence and safety in the water. She worked with programs throughout Forsyth County, she was instrumental in building and shaping the Aqua Farm Swim Lesson program at Enfinity Aquatic Club in partnership with The Crossing Church in Kernserville, NC.

When local high school diving programs needed leadership, Sue stepped forward once again. Serving as the Dive Coach for all of WSFCS 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.

To honor her legacy, the Forsyth Swimming Foundation is honored to launch the Acampora Aquatics Scholarship program, dedicated to providing residents of Forsyth County equitable access to aquatics programming, including swim lessons and competitive swimming opportunities, to individuals 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. Through the Acampora Aquatics Scholarship, her legacy continues every time a child learns to swim.