Water Works

Growing up, YWCA Lower Cape Fear aquatics director AILEEN SUTTON swam competitively for eight years and began her aquatics career at a YWCA in Asheville after college, where an interview question about teaching water aerobics unexpectedly launched her career.

Since moving to Wilmington in 2013, Sutton has worked in a variety of wellness and aquatics roles. Now in her fifth year as aquatics director at the YWCA, she says the community keeps her passionate about the work. “We see generations coming through,” she says. “Parents who learned how to swim at the YWCA now have their kids learning how to swim at the YWCA.”

The YWCA temporarily closed its pool in August for a significant overhaul that includes replacing its bubble enclosure, retiling the pool itself, and other facility upgrades. The major project and pool closure is slated through October.

To view more of photographer Daria Amato’s work, go to dariaphoto.com

Want more WILMA? Click here to sign up for our WILMA newsletters and announcements.