Gator Gazette

Registration is officially open for the 2026–2027 Alligator Aquatics Short Course Season, which begins Monday, August 31st! We can't wait to welcome back our returning families and introduce new swimmers to another exciting season of fast swimming, hard work, and team success.

New this season! Your registration includes our Arena Team Bundle, featuring:

• USA Swimming Registration

• Official Arena team suit

• Team cap

• 2026–2027 Alligator Aquatics season t-shirt

Be sure to complete your registration early to secure your swimmer's spot and take advantage of everything included this season!

Help us grow the Alligator family! If you know a swimmer looking for a positive, competitive team environment, spread the word! Invite your friends, classmates, neighbors, and teammates to join a club where every athlete is known, every accomplishment is celebrated, and quality and character truly count.

Training grids will be released as soon as possible, so please watch your email and the team website for updates. We appreciate your patience and look forward to kicking off another outstanding season together!

What a fantastic weekend for Alligator Aquatics at the PAC Regional Championships!

We're incredibly proud that 90% of our team qualified for and competed at Regionals, representing our club with determination, sportsmanship, and Alligator pride. Our swimmers delivered an outstanding weekend filled with new State qualifying times, personal bests, podium finishes, and countless time drops.

Every athlete's hard work and dedication were on full display, and the results speak for themselves. Congratulations to all of our swimmers and coaches on an amazing championship meet, and thank you to our families for your unwavering support throughout the season.

Be sure to check out our Regional Results Highlights below to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of our team. Way to go, Alligators!

We're excited to announce that Alligator Aquatics will once again be partnering with INSPYR Studios to offer an optional additional day of dryland training beginning in September!

Our athletes who participated this summer had a fantastic experience, gaining strength, mobility, and confidence. Based on the positive feedback and results, we're thrilled to continue this partnership into the short course season.

More details, including dates, registration, and pricing, will be coming soon!

A Special Thank You from INSPYR

As a thank you to our swim families, INSPYR Studios is offering all parents of participating athletes a complimentary week of classes! It's a great opportunity to experience their programs firsthand.

To claim your FREE week, simply text "swim team" to (209) 920-2672

Championship Meets

Championship season is here! Congratulations to all of our athletes who have qualified for the upcoming championship meets. We wish everyone the best of luck as they finish the long course season strong. Good luck, Alligators—we're proud of you!

• 7/23/26 - 7/26/26: Illinois Swimming Senior State Championship
  📍 FMC Natatorium- 275 Plaza Dr., Westmont, IL

• 7/25/26 - 7/26/26: Illinois Swimming 10 & U State Championships
  📍Libertyville HS, Libertyville, IL

• 7/30/26- 8/2/26: Illinois Swimming Age Group (11-14) State Champs
  📍 Hobart Aquatic Center- 2211 East 10th Street, Hobart, IN

• 8/4/26: Illinois Swimming Open Water State Championships
  📍 Lake Manteno, Sportsman’s Club Park- 851 N. Main St., Manteno, IL

Looking Ahead to the 2026–2027 Short Course Season

Mark your calendars for these important upcoming dates:

• 7/20/26 - SC Registration Opens

• 8/31/26 - First Day of Short Course Season!

• 9/20/26 - Mandatory Parent Meeting - Details Coming Soon!
  

Looking to try something new before the long course season wraps up? Illinois Swimming's Open Water State Championships are a great opportunity to experience racing outside the pool and represent Alligator Aquatics in a unique championship environment!

Event Details

• Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2026

• Location: Lake Manteno, Manteno, Illinois

• Meet Packet & Information

• Qualification: Swimmers must meet the Illinois Swimming Open Water qualifying time standards for their age group and event distance. The same qualifying standards are used for both the Illinois State and Central Zone Open Water Championships.

If your swimmer is interested in competing or would like to learn more about open water racing, please let Coach Stacy know as soon as possible so we can gauge interest and coordinate entries. Registration ends July 26, 2026.

This is an exciting opportunity to challenge yourself, race in a new environment, and finish the summer season with a one-of-a-kind championship experience!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Arlington Heights 4th of July Parade! It was a wonderful opportunity to represent Alligator Aquatics, connect with our community, and spread the word about our amazing team.

From handing out candy and team information to cheering along the parade route, our athletes, families and coaches proudly showcased the Alligator spirit. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make it a fun and successful event. We can't wait to do it again next year!