• 1.2025 Registration is open

Returning Gators and mini gators please click here to register as a Gator or a mini Gator. We ask that all returning gators please register by opening day (May 26^th).

GATORS Gators swimmers should be able to swim at minimum a passable freestyle across the length of the pool, showing understanding of breathing to the side, and an emerging continuous stroke.

New this year-- payment is rendered by credit card or Google Pay as part of the registration process in Swimtopia. Alternate types of payment are no longer accepted for registration. The cost is $150 per Gator, plus admin fees ($3 per athlete and 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction). Registration will be approved in the system upon receipt of payment. This includes 8-10 weeks of swimming, a Gators cap, trophy, banquet, and all Fun Friday activities.

MINI GATORS
The Mini Gators program is for younger members ages 5 to 9 who are not quite ready to be on the swim team but can currently swim across 1 length of the pool , and who are ready to learn to dive, swim freestyle, and begin to learn breaststroke and backstroke. Group or individual swim lessons are STRONGLY encouraged in tandem with the Minis Program, to allow young swimmers more time to improve. The cost is $40 per Mini-Gator, plus fees ($3 per athlete and 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction).

NEW SWIMMER SCREENINGSIf you're unsure which is the right program for your swimmer please hold off on registration and attend an evaluation session for coaches’ input. Evaluations will take place on May 27^th and 28^th at 7pm.

Finally, we do not want cost to be a barrier for participating. If any family needs financial assistance, please reach out to Ingrid/Jenny at [email protected]. We have some funds to assist any families in need, as well as a place for other families to donate to gators-in-need fund and will keep such conversations in confidence.

Please direct questions regarding registration to Aiyana Pucci at [email protected].

We plan to again offer swim lessons and a masters program for adult swimmers. Instructor and registration information to come soon- stay tuned.

• 2.Welcome our 2025 Coaching staff!

We are excited to announce that Niklas Hammond is returning as head coach with Marrick Golladay and Sophia Marchionini returning as assistant coaches. As you may know, Alexandra LaDuca decided not to return this year, so we put out a call for interested assistant coaches. After our panel interviewed several candidates, we unanimously selected Liam Rooney to be the next assistant coach. Welcome Liam! We're so thrilled to have you. Joining the coaching team as junior coaches this year will be Zoe Gondi and Quinn Marchionini, both veteran Gators who have been incredible cheerleaders and support for the team.

• 3.Important Dates, mark your calendar!

• Tuesday May 27^th: First day of Gator practices and continuing through June 17^th as follows:

oAges 13-18 (4:00-4:45 pm)

o9-12 (5:00-5:45 pm)

o8 and Under (6:00-6:45 pm)

• Wednesday May 28^th at 7pm: New Parent Orientation- For any prospective or new parents to meet the reps, ask questions and learn about what it means to be a Gator! Meet in the pavilion behind the snack shack
• Friday May 30^th at 7pm: Parents meeting and potluck social- Meet the coaches and socialize with other gator families. Get your main course from no cook and bring a side dish to share on the upper deck picnic tables.
• Saturday June 7^th at 8am: Time Trials! We run this just like a meet, allowing every swimmer to establish a baseline time for each event.
• Friday June 13^th at 7pm: First Fun Friday- Gator pep rally and Homecoming! Let’s get fired up for our first meet! Swimmers are encouraged to wear vintage gator gear and gator alums will be encouraged to join us.
• Wednesday June 18^th: MCPS is done, mini gators and morning practices begin!

o13-18 (7:30-8:45 pm)

o9-12 (9-10am)

o8 and Under (10:15-11am)

oMini Gators(11-11:40am)

• June 28^th-30^th: Teen Trip to Henlopen State Park. Swimmers aged 13 and up along with the coaches and parent chaperones will head to the beach right after the meet for 2 days of sun, waves and team bonding, More info to come from Priscilla Bacon
• Thursday July 3^rd: Fun Thursday (since the 4th is a Friday)
• Sunday July 6^th: Relay Carnival Meet @Glenwood
• Saturday July 19^th: Divisionals Meet @Regency Estates

• 4.Please welcome our 2025 Parent Volunteers
• It takes a village to run a swim team. There are all sorts of volunteer positions that comprise the nearly 600 shifts needed to make summer swimming a reality, not to mention the countless hours spent by those running larger positions on the team! The Gators requires each family to volunteer. We will send out more detailed information on jobs and sign-ups one the season gears up. If you have questions or don't know how you could help, please let us know and we are glad to help you find a niche.
• Thank you to the following parents who have stepped to lead major roles to support the team. If you’re interested in helping in any of these areas, please reach out- these volunteers would probably love the support.
• A reps: Ingrid Lund and Jenny Blasdell
• B rep: Tracy Jacobs
• Treasurer: Jennifer Sullivan
• Automation: Katie Ryder and Jeff Highfill
• Registration: Aiyana Pucci
• Volunteer Coordinator: Sraah Dugan
• Teen Trip: Priscilla Bacon
• Fundraising: Yasmi Mesiya and Kim O’Brien
• Gator gear: Susanne Mount, Jennfer Sullivan and Yasmi Mesiya
• Fun Fridays: Jennifer Meyer
• Team Banquet: Melanie Stickle
• Senior Banquet: Ellie Wooden
• Swim Lessons Coordinator: Julie Ward
• Masters Program: Kim O’Brien
• Parent Advisory Committee:
• oTanja Blumenschein
• oMimi Dennis
• oMegan DiNicola
• oJeanne Fekade-Selassie
• oRobi Gondi
• oFabiola Mendivil-Smith
• oMelanie Stickle

As well as the countless parents who have gotten certified as officials, will sign up to time events, run concessions, clerk of course and many more jobs to be done on swim meet days!

ATTENTION!! WE NEED Meet Officials (no number is too many!): Each swim meet needs many officials and we are looking for additional stroke and turn judges and starters for this summer. MCSL offers training for these roles and the schedule has been posted.

Have you been certified and wonder if you need to renew? The same link can access a list of Franklin Knolls officials and their statuses. USA swimming certifications can transfer to MCSL as well. Becoming an official is a great way to learn more about the sport and help the team! Big thanks to all of our meet officials!

Want to become an official or do you need to recertify? Learn more and register here: https://mcsl.org/officials/.

• 5.Your 2024 Feedback

At the end of last season, we sent we sent out a survey asking for your feedback on various aspects of the Gator season. Thank you to the 55 plus families who participated. Attached is an overview of results. As we reviewed this feedback, four things went into the planning process for the season ahead:

• Gator families are extremely engaged and happy with the team. Most things are going really well and received really high marks. We don't want to fix what isn't broken
• Ensuring we balance competition and fun appropriately- fun and inclusiveness are the top priorities!
• Ensuring that every Gator family has an opportunity to provide input and be heard. We are counting on the parent advisory committee to serve as ambassadors to the team at large and help out the reps with that.
• Reconsidering a few specific things such as practice schedules, how the banquet is run, and how to ensure we give every swimmer a chance to compete in some way including making sure we have a good B meet schedule.