H2A swimmers make waves in and out of the pool

At a young age, Samantha Fenstermaker joined Hilton Head Aquatics (H2A) and immediately enjoyed the sport.

But Fenstermaker, a rising senior, and her parents decided she should try other sports. A year later, she returned to H2A and began a love affair with swimming.

Her passion for the sport has helped the Hilton Head Preparatory School senior earn an opportunity to continue her swimming career at the U.S. Naval Academy next fall.

“I started swimming really young, and loved it,” recalled Fenstermaker, who competes in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly. “When I was 6, I tried out for H2A. I made the team. I stopped for a year, but then I came back.”

This season, Fenstermaker has battled through injuries but has realized her potential.
“I had some injuries, but I have been training really hard,” Fenstermaker said. “I will have some great opportunities soon at the Junior Nationals in California. It has been a great experience swimming for H2A.”

Fenstermaker is among numerous success stories from the H2A program. It began in 1984 and expanded to a year-round program in 1991. Four years later, the program reached 65 swimmers training at the Hilton Head Island Recreation Center.
In recent years, H2A has averaged 75 to 100 swimmers annually. It was ranked ninth nationally by USA Swimming last season among more than 400 teams in its size category.

H2A also has produced five state champions, 12 all-state swimmers, a Senior Select Camp qualifier at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, three first-time senior sectional qualifiers, eight NCSA Junior National qualifiers, an NCSA Junior National finalist and one USA Swimming Summer Junior National qualifier, among other honors.

H2A head coach Mike Lane believes there has been a combined effort to help the program maintain its lofty status. The program currently has five age groups, beginning with swimmers ages 5 to 8.

“Hilton Head Aquatics is successful because we have great kids,” Lane said. “We also have unbelievable parent support, amazing team sponsors and a long-forged partnership with the Island Recreation Center for more than 40 years.”

Lane, who has been head coach since 2011, has seen cycles in the program’s overall numbers and age-group participation. The program now has 80 swimmers and operates year-round, with both short-course and long-course seasons. Most of the swimmers are in the younger age groups.

He has watched steady local support help fuel the program.

“Our biggest feeder program has probably been the lessons offered at the Rec Center,” Lane said. “That has consistently added swimmers. We also have had swimmers who moved into the area and joined us.”

Olivia Johnson, another rising senior at Hilton Head High School, began swimming with the program in 2020. She also has competed for the high school team since eighth grade.

Johnson is relishing this season.

“The 2025-26 short-course season was great!” Johnson said. “We have had some great summer training, and we are getting ready for our long-course championship meet, where I had multiple top-10 finishes last year.”
For Johnson, swimming for H2A has been a rewarding experience in and out of the pool.

“I absolutely love swimming and all Hilton Head Aquatics has had to offer,” Johnson said. “I have become a better person on and off the pool deck through the help of my coaches and best friends on the team.”