Lily Windham, Mia Windham and Kendal Ashburn tread new waters at the national level

photo courtesy of Keiser University Swim Alumni Mia Windham (Milligan University), Lilly Windham (Keiser University) and Kendal Ashburn (Life University) celebrate together after competing at the NAIA Swimming and Diving National Championships. The three former teammates reunited at the Elkhart Aquatic Center in March 2026 to represent their colleges on national level.

For The King’s Academy alumni Mia Windham, Lilly Windham and Kendall Ashburn, swimming has gone from early morning practices with TKA to competing at the collegiate national level. These three former TKA standouts have continued their swimming careers in college and recently competed at the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) Swim Nationals, Lilly representing Keiser University, Mia representing Milligan University and Kendall representing Life University.

“They are extremely coachable. It’s never enough for them. They will seek more and more coaching. Any feedback they receive, they immediately add to whatever they are working on and can do that every day without being reminded,” Head TKA swim coach Coach Ra said. “They are relentless in their work and meticulous with the details.”

While at TKA, 2023 alumni Lilly Windham trained for more than 20 hours a week not just in the pool but also with lifting and dryland workouts. Now swimming at Keiser University, she became an NAIA All-American—a prestigious national honor awarded to the top eight finishers in the country. She recorded a time of 4:35.35 in the 400 IM (Individual Medley) and placed seventh in the nation at the national championships March 6.

“After having been disqualified at the finals last year in the same event [for a 15 meter mark violation—staying under water after a turn for 15 meters or more], being able to earn that recognition was very exciting,” Lily Windham said. 

2025 alumni Mia Windham, a current freshman at Milligan University, qualified for NAIA nationals where she competed in the 200-yard IM and backstroke events. She helped her team earn a top 10 spot in national ranking. 

“My favorite accomplishment in swim was breaking one minute in the 100 backstroke,” Mia Windham said. “I have since gone faster than that, but it is my favorite because I had been milliseconds off for well over a year.” 

2024 alumni Kendall Ashburn, a current sophomore at Life University, also qualified for NAIA nationals where she competed in the 400 IM and the 200-yard butterfly. She contributed points toward her team’s overall score at nationals.

“My favorite accomplishment thus far has been making nationals and breaking 24 seconds for a 50 free,” Ashburn said. “I honestly get the most joy out of watching my teammates hit their goal times.”

Coach Ra said some of his favorite memories while coaching these swimmers was seeing them work hard in practice and all the while being encouraging to their teammates around them.

“They can make you laugh, help you hold your head up if you’re down and they are in your corner cheering you on every step of the way,” Coach Ra said.

Their time at TKA and their time at clubs like Stingrays and SwimAtlanta prepared them for college competition and swimming at the national level. Through their continued achievements, Mia Windham, Lilly Windham and Kendall Ashburn showcase the strength of TKA’s swimming program as they compete far beyond the high school level.