Today we’d like to introduce you to Cole Yarborough.
Hi Cole, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
H&L Swim Academy began in 2017 founded by Scott Hammond and Ed Lauer. In 2025, Scott Hammond sold H&L Swim Academy to me, and he retired. Prior to my arrival at H&L Swim Academy, in 2022 as the Director of Operations, Ed Lauer had relocated to another state and Scott was the sole owner of H&L. I got into swimming as a kid through the summer league swim team at my local summer pool. I enjoyed the sport and began swimming year-round at the age of 13. I earned an athletic scholarship to NC State University to swim, where I majored in education.
I am a former public school educator. I taught 7th grade math for 4 years, was an Assistant Principal of an elementary and high school for 4 years and served as the Principal of an elementary school for 4 years.
I am about to finish my first year as owner of H&L Swim Academy in Clayton, NC.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have been lucky to transition from Director of Operations to Owner/CEO of H&L Swim Academy with the founder and former owner shepherding the transition process. He trained me to know every aspect of the business prior to taking over. There have been a few things that have come up that were unexpected, but his guidance and mentorship set me up and continue to help me navigate my first year as the owner of this business.
As you know, we’re big fans of H&L Swim Academy. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We are a swim school that operates 7 days a week offering group and private swim lessons to individuals from 6 months to adults, of any ability level. We have excellent instructors who are highly trained and sought-after in our local community. H&L Swim Academy is focused on providing all swimmers a pathway to learn the 4 strokes of swimming. Swimming is a life skill. We have recently announced a partnership with Carolina Swims Foundation to provide free swim lessons to kids in foster care.
What are your plans for the future?
Continuing to provide the best swim lessons to our clients and help them experience all that swimming has to offer! We are also excited to help kids in the North Carolina foster care system learn how to swim.
Pricing:
- https://hlswimacademy.com/riverwood-athletic-club-swim-lessons-clayton-nc/
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hlswimacademy.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hlswimacademy/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HLSwimAcademy/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hlswimacademy
