Hello Gators and Happy New Year! We are gearing for the 2023 season and want to share with you the latest news and updates.

(1) New Head Coach: We have hired a new head coach, Katie Metz. She was born and raised in Bellevue, Washington. After graduating high school, she moved to Colorado to study K-12 music education at the University of Northern Colorado. Now, during the school year, she is the music teacher at John Muir Elementary. In the summers, for the past 6 years, she has been in charge of swim camp at Bellevue Club in addition to teaching swim lessons. From the age of 5 to 18, she swam every summer on the Phantom Lake swim team. Summer swim team was one of her favorite parts about growing up. She loves swimming and is looking forward to showing her love of swimming through coaching.

(2) Assistant Coach Needed: We are still looking for an assistant coach. Please spread the word. Here is a link to apply: https://kingsgategators.swimtopia.com/coaches-needed

(3) Open Positions: The Gators swim team is run and managed by volunteers. We are still looking to fill some key roles for the 2023 season including the following:

• Family Participation: The Family Participation Coordinator shall be responsible for arranging the family participation roster for all swim meets and team activities. Additionally, the Family Participation Coordinator will work with the Head Official to ensure the maintenance and tracking of all team officials. The Family Participation Coordinator shall be a Board member.
• Secretary: The Secretary shall prepare the minutes of all meetings of the Board, and shall record such other resolutions, rules, procedures, etc., adopted by the Board and shall distribute to the Board members all correspondence as may be necessary for the business or operation of the team. The Secretary shall keep full and accurate accounts and shall at each meeting report the status of the team's account.

Please email [email protected]if interested. Thank you for considering.(4) Registration for the 2023 Season:

Gator registration will open March 13^th and close on March 24^th. https://kingsgategators.swimtopia.com/

(5) Gator Kids: We are excited to announce the return of Gator Kids. The Gator Kids program is designed to give kids 4 to 6 years of age the chance to learn the sport and competition of summer league swimming. This program is NOT swim lessons. The structure will be similar to last year with practice two days a week and participating in 2-3 home meets, in which they race a single 25-yard freestyle. The goal for this program is to teach new swimmers how to swim freestyle across the pool without stopping and without assistance during a race. Gator Kids will be an opportunity for new swimmers to practice racing before heading into the 8 & under age group. If you are interested in this program, a google form will be available on the website during the registration window of March 13-24.

(6) New Logo: We are excited to have a new logo for the 2023 season! Reveal coming soon.

(7) New Gators: The board will be holding an informational session for families interested in joining Gators on March 8^th at 7pm via zoom. Please share and pass along with interested families. We welcome anyone to attend but the meeting is geared towards families new to competitive swimming.

Topic: Kingsgate 5 Gators Swim Team Q&A Session
Time: Mar 8, 2023 07:00 PM

Join Zoom Meetinghttps://us06web.zoom.us/j/87526713362?pwd=TWpkV0preHAwWFJWbkFyNFBPbzkydz09

Meeting ID: 875 2671 3362
Passcode: 428677

(8) Lifeguards Needed: The pool is hiring lifeguards and swim instructors for the 2023 pool season. No experience is necessary. Minimum age is 15 and current lifeguard certification (or by June 1st 2023). Please email your resume to [email protected] by March 30th.

(9) Contact: For questions and contact, this years’ team parents will be Ashley Gillen ([email protected]) and Donna Scotti ([email protected]). For the rest of the board contact info, visit https://kingsgategators.swimtopia.com/about.

Few! That was a long email but so much excitement for this season. Please reach out with any questions. See you at the pool. Go Gators!

Ashley & Donna