Gator Gazette

We’re excited to kick off one of our favorite team traditions — Splash for Cash — a fun, high-energy fundraiser that brings our swimmers together while supporting everything that makes Alligator Aquatics great!

Alligator Aquatics Splash for Cash

Sunday, February 1st

8:00–10:30 AM

Elk Grove High School

What to wear: This season’s team t-shirt and team sweatshirt

Click Here to Donate!

Click Here for all the Event Details!

If you have access to a corporate donating matching program, this is one of the best ways to increase your fundraising impact! Make sure you’re submitting your donations to your company match program. For Splash for Cash, email vicepresident@alligatoraquatics.org if you submit your donation for a match and your athlete will receive an extra raffle ticket at the event!

Alligator Aquatics accepts donations from corporate sponsors! If you know a company that would be interested in sponsoring the team, direct them to our Sponsorship Brochure for further information.

Our fun and optional Super Bowl Square fundraiser is live! For every 5 squares a swimmer sells before 2/1, they will also earn an extra raffle entry at Splash for Cash. We look forward to seeing who the winners are on Super Bowl Sunday! Check out additional details, Click Here!

2026 Important Dates

Gators, it’s go-time! 🐊 The 2026 calendar is packed with our final short course meets and the championship stretch that we’ve been training for.

We also have our Splash for Cash Fundraiser & Championship Team Pasta Party!

Mark your calendars, stay locked in at practice, and keep chasing those cuts—let’s make a strong push to earn spots on our championship teams in 2026!

Alligator Aquatics Splash for Cash Fundraiser

📍 Elk Grove HS, Elk Grove, IL – 2/1/26

Alligator Aquatics Last Splash Hosted Meet

📍 Elk Grove HS, Elk Grove, IL – 2/22/26

Alligator Aquatics Championship Team Pasta Party

📍 Mt. Prospect, IL – 2/26/26 DETAILS COMING SOON!

Illinois Swimming REGIONAL Championships

📍 Barrington HS, Barrington, IL – 2/27/26 - 3/1/26

Illinois Swimming SENIOR State Championships

📍 UIC Natatorium, Chicago, IL – 3/5/26 - 3/8/26

Illinois Swimming 10 & U State Championships

📍Glenbrook North HS, Northbrook, IL – 3/7/26 - 3/8/26

Illinois Swimming AGE GROUP (11-14) State Championships

📍 RecPlex, Pleasant Prairie, WI – 3/12/26 - 3/15/26

SAVE THE DATE - Alligator Aquatics Team Banquet

📍TBD, IL – 4/9/26 DETAILS COMING SOON!

Last Splash — Hosted Meet

Sunday, February 22, 2026

Elk Grove HS

Join us for our 2026 Last Splash, a one-day hosted meet. This will be the final meet of the season for swimmers who have not qualified for Regionals or State—an excellent opportunity to finish the Fall/Winter season strong!

As our last hosted meet of the Fall/Winter season, we will need all families to volunteer to help make this event a success. Please keep an eye out for Volunteer Sign-Up details coming soon.

Visit our Events Page for more information.

Alligator Aquatics: Proud to Be Safe Sport Certified

At Alligator Aquatics, keeping our athletes safe is a shared commitment—and a point of pride. We are proud to be a Safe Sport Certified club, a distinction that sets us apart and reflects our dedication to creating a positive, respectful, and safe environment for every swimmer.

Safe Sport resources and training are provided through USA Swimming and supported by Illinois Swimming. These programs are designed to protect athletes, empower families, and promote a healthy team culture—both on and off the deck.

Why This Matters

Safe Sport training helps parents and swimmers understand healthy boundaries, recognize and respond to concerns, know how to report them, and support a safe, respectful team culture.

Safe Sport certification is one of the ways Alligator Aquatics sets itself apart. Not every club makes this commitment, but we do—because swimmer safety and well-being come first.

Our Goal: Maintain Safe Sport Certification with 100% Participation

To maintain our Safe Sport Certified status for 2026, participation from our entire Alligator Aquatics community is essential. The good news? Safe Sport training is quick, easy, and can be completed online.

Access Safe Sport Courses:

Both parents want credit? Each parent must have their own USA Swimming account, linked to the swimmer 🔗 How to link a child to multiple parent accounts

Athletes ages 13 & over: Must complete the course through their own USA Swimming account.🔗 How to create a login for my child

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.

Thank You, Alligator Families

Thank you for helping Alligator Aquatics continue to lead by example. Your participation helps ensure our club remains a place where athletes feel safe, supported, and proud to belong. If you have questions or need help accessing the training, please reach out to safesport@alligatoraquatics.org

Splash For Cash Incentive!

If a parent and swimmer show Safe Sport course completion by our Splash For Cash, you’ll receive a free raffle ticket at the raffle table.

This includes:

• Verified course completion for parents and athletes ages 13+, and/or

• A screenshot showing completion of the 12 & Under course watched together by parent and swimmer

Thanks for helping us make Safe Sport a priority—and for joining in the fun!

Get ready to dive into an exciting Spring/Summer Long Course season! Registration will open late February/early March, so keep an eye on your inbox for details. We’re looking forward to fast swims, big goals, and another incredible season together—let’s make it our best one yet!

Cullen has had huge drops this winter in all of his events, particularly in the 500 free when he went a 5:24 at the GSC meet! Cullen is the embodiment of a hard worker! He always gives his best, even when he does not like the set at practice (i.e. Kicking!) Cullen is a great teammate, always cheering for all Alligators. He has a super positive attitude. Cullen is a great example for others on how working hard, having fun and being positive leads to incredible success! Congratulations on some phenomenal times so far this season, Cullen!

As we begin to near the end of the season details matter! Whether it's as simple as not taking a breath off your walls or extending your under-waters, these small details will give you the competitive advantage when racing. Check out this video from the Olympic Committee that explains how underwater dolphin kicks changed how we race. Our upcoming hosted meet, the Last Splash should not be the first time you extend your under-waters. Practice these details during practice and gain mastery on how these small details tailor to your stroke.