Gator Gazette
February 2026
Thank You, Alligator Aquatics Family
What an incredible 2025–2026 Short Course season!
From the first practices in August to our final races in February, this long season was filled with hard work, early mornings, late nights, personal bests, team cheers, and unforgettable moments. None of it happens without the dedication of our athletes, the leadership and commitment of our coaches, and the unwavering support of our families.
To our Swimmers, Thank you for showing up, putting in the work, and pushing yourselves every single day.
To our Coaches, Thank you for your guidance, passion, and belief in every athlete.
To our Families, Thank you for the carpools, volunteer hours, meet weekends, and constant encouragement behind the scenes.
We also celebrate an amazing fundraising season, with funds raised exceeding $20,000! Every dollar goes directly back into our program — strengthening our team, supporting our athletes, enhancing training opportunities, and investing in the future of Alligator Aquatics.
This season was about more than times and medals. It was about growth, grit, teamwork, and community.
Thank you for making this Short Course season one to remember.
We are so proud of this Alligator Aquatics Family!
- The Alligator Aquatics Board
Congratulations to Our Alligator Aquatics Championship Team Swimmers!
We are so proud of the hard work, dedication, and determination it took to qualify for Championship season. Your commitment at practice and your focus at meets have truly paid off!
Below is the list of our upcoming Championship Meets. We can’t wait to see you race fast, compete strong, and represent Alligator Aquatics with pride.
Alligator Aquatics Championship Team Pasta Party
📍 Forest River Civic Hall - 207 N. Lee Street, Mt. Prospect, IL – 2/26/26 @ 5:30pm
Illinois Swimming Winter Regional Championships
📍 Barrington HS, Barrington, IL - 2/27/26 - 3/1/26
Illinois Swimming Winter Senior State Championships
📍 UIC Natatorium, Chicago, IL - 3/5/26 - 3/8/26
Illinois Swimming Winter 10 & U State Championships
📍Glenbrook North HS, Northbrook, IL - 3/7/26 - 3/8/26
Illinois Swimming Winter Age Group (11-14) State Championships
📍 RecPlex, Pleasant Prairie, WI - 3/12/26 - 3/15/26
Save the Date! Alligator Aquatics Team Banquet!
All swimmers and their families are invited to attend the Alligator Aquatics Team Banquet on:
📅 Thursday, April 9th
🕕 6:00 PM
📍 Kemper Lakes Golf Club – Kildeer, IL
Join us as we celebrate an incredible season, recognize our athletes, and enjoy a special evening together as a team.
More details are coming soon — but be sure to mark your calendars now!
We can’t wait to celebrate with all of you and look forward to seeing everyone there!
Long Course Season Registration Coming Soon!
Get ready for an exciting Spring & Summer season!
Registration Opens: March 1, 2026
Head over to the registration page on our website for full details and important information.
Mark your Calendars - First Day Back in the Pool: March 30, 2026
Help us grow the Gator family - spread the word and invite friends to join The Team Where Character Counts this summer!
We can’t wait to kick off the Long Course season and get back to work together.
See you all back on deck soon, Gators!
SC 25-26 Feedback Survey
We Value Your Feedback!
As we wrap up an incredible season, we’d love to hear from you! Please take a few minutes to complete our 2025–2026 Short Course Season Feedback Survey. Your feedback helps us celebrate what’s working well and identify areas where we can continue to grow and improve.
The survey is completely anonymous and will take less than 5 minutes to complete. Every response truly matters and helps shape the future of Alligator Aquatics.
Click the button below to complete the survey:
SafeSport
We’re proud to be a Safe Sport Certified club — a distinction that sets Alligator Aquatics apart. But certification isn’t a one-time achievement. It’s something we maintain through education and participation. Currently, our online Safe Sport course completion rates are lower than we’d like — and we need more families to jump in.
The course:
✔ Takes about 30 minutes
✔ Can be done on your phone, tablet, or computer
✔ Valid for 18 months
✔ Helps us maintain certification
✔ Helps you better understand how we protect athletes
You can complete it while waiting for warm-ups to start, during meet breaks, or from your couch at home.
Safe Sport isn’t just about policies.
It’s about living our mission and modeling the culture we want for our swimmers.
Let’s raise our participation rate and show what Gator pride looks like!
Log in to your USA Swimming account and complete your Safe Sport course this week.
Access Safe Sport Courses: USA Swimming
Both parents want credit? Each parent must have their own USA Swimming account, linked to the swimmer
Athletes ages 13 & over: Must complete the course through their own USA Swimming account.
Athletes ages 12 & under: Training is not required or tracked, but we strongly encourage parents to watch the kids course together with their swimmer to support early, age-appropriate safety conversations.
Swimmer Spotlight
Quentin has been absolutely killing it this season! His comeback after a broken leg last year has been huge! Heading into championship season, Quentin has 7 Regional cuts and is within striking distance of a few Age Group State cuts! His success this season can be attributed to hard work and grit. He shows up at practice ready to work and you can see him pushing himself during sets or in any given race. Way to go Quentin!
