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When our children were younger, we remember attending our very first Senior Day at an A-meet and being thoroughly impressed with what the Gator Seniors had accomplished in and out of the pool, and where they were headed when they finished high school. We remember thinking then that there must be something truly special about swimming and the Gator community if it was turning out kids like these. When we built the website, we started featuring seniors each year so that all Gator team members can get to know our graduating seniors, and realize the value of summer swim.
Besides this recognition and the Senior Day festivities scheduled for July 10, 2021, some seniors will also write their own "Memories/Reflections of a Gator" which will be posted on the Gator Blog toward the end of the summer, as they come in; please check back here and click the links to read their thoughts when they are posted. They are an insightful group, so we think you will learn something from them, get a laugh, or maybe a good cry.
In some ways it seemed like a long time ago when we saw our first Gator Senior Day, but now we are the older parents and we have been there with our very own Seniors in 2018 and again in the dreaded 2020 season that wasn't. Trust us when we say that it goes by so very fast -- sort of like an A-meet relay! -- and you never know what might sideline your swimmer, so be sure to savor every magical summer Gator moment.
-- Jim and Tonda Phalen
Former Team Reps
Our 2021 MVP Gator Seniors
Andrew Baker
Since I joined the Gators swim team at age 10 it has been a big part of my life and the highlight of my summers. It has provided me with a competitive outlet, a job, and most importantly friendships that will last a lifetime.
My fondest memories come from the water polo games at the end of practice. I went from being on the receiving end of attempted drownings to being one of the perpetrators as I moved up through the age groups. Harassing Coach Paul to let us play water polo became a daily activity.
Lastly, I would like to thank Coach Paul for his guidance and for putting up with Clark’s and my antics for 8 years.
Andrew graduated from Gonzaga College High School and will be attending Boston College in the fall to study economics -- and facetime with his mother every Sunday!
Olivia Heck
I can’t believe this is my last summer as a MVP gator. 13 years have felt like they have gone by in a flash. From early morning practices after club practices, rainy A meets, and the annual banquets, I wouldn’t change a thing.
My parents signed me up as a MVP gator when I was 5. All I remember was that I hated attending practice and I especially hated competing in the meets. I would cry and have a breakdown in the clerk of course. My mother would not comfort me and say “suck it up” and force me to swim. I was not the biggest fan of swimming back then. I was 11 when I was put into my very first A meet, swimming 50 back and 50 fly. Let’s just say I got last every single meet.
As the years went on I made more friends and learned to love swimming and the friends I made along the way. Without my friends I do not think I would have started swimming year round or have the opportunity to continue to swim in college.
There are many memories that I can talk about but the two I remember are the annual campout and the coaches retreat. The first memory is special to me because everyone is together. The whole team comes together at the end of the year to celebrate everything we have accomplished. The party goes into the night resulting in many kids pulling an all-nighter. The coaches retreat was super fun because we got to spend a night together in a house where all we did was hangout. It really bonded the coaches when we had to participate in games.
I want to thank everybody who has helped me on this amazing journey and getting me where I am today. GO GATORS!
Olivia will study pre-med at Rhodes College and swim for the school's team.
Clark Bayer
The Gators have been a part of my life since I was born and it will remain a part of it for the rest of my life. My favorite things about summer swim are the Saturday A-meets, going out to eat with the team, and water polo. The Gators have helped me make life long friends.
I would love to thank my family for always being there for me and always taking me and Cassidy to all swim meets and practices. I would also like to give a big shout out to coach Paul for always being there for me on and off the deck. Shout out as well to Andy Bakes!
In the fall, Clark will return to Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania for his senior year of high school.
TJ Heck
TJ has been a Gator swimmer for 13 seasons. Two of TJs relay teams still hold the MVP team record. Do not miss TJ's Reflections of a Gator - it is a beautifully written, heartfelt glimpse into what being a Gator is truly all about -- once and always.
TJ graduated this spring from St. Stephens & St. Agnes School. In the fall, TJ will be attending the the Honors College at the College of Charleston, studying International Business and Spanish.
Leigh Kovalsky
In 2008, at age five, Leigh joined the Gators and has been a member of the team for the last 14 years.
Her favorite meet was her very first A-meet, where she swam on the winning 8&under girls' relay team. Leigh has also coached both winter and summer seasons for the Gators, works here as a lifeguard and has given private lessons to many little Gators.
During the school years, Leigh spent eight years studying dance at Just Dance, and also played basketball for eight years in the Fort Hunt and St. Louis CYO leagues. She swam for the West Potomac High School Swim & Dive team for two years and was also on the Crew team all four years. Leigh was a member of both the National English Honor Society and National Psychology Honor Society, and was on the Honor Roll all through middle school and three years in high school.
Next year Leigh is headed to the University of Tennessee-Knoxville to study Nutrition and Business. Leigh wants to thank the Gator community, and especially Coach Paul and all of the amazing friends she’s made over the years for making this a place she’ll never ever forget. Go Gators and go Vols!!
Read Leigh's Reflections of a Gator here.
Cecy Morales
Twelve years with this swim team has rewarded me with the greatest memories and most meaningful experiences. Every year I look forward to long days of being toasted in the sun, cooling off in perfectly brisk water, and being surrounded by friends; the perfect summer escape. Nothing beat the chilly air on the morning of an important race, excitedly smearing our car windows in paint spelling “LET’S GO GATORS” and “EAT MY BUBBLES,” all while still snuggled in our oversized sweats and flip flops.
These past years I’ve had the chance to contribute to the team through coaching and lessons, which have brought their own type of fun. I’ll miss the routine Dunkin runs between practice and coaching for sure.
This team has been a community I’ve loved for 12 years. I learned what team spirit means and made my favorite memories at the swim team campouts, progressive dinners, and coaches retreat. I wish my fellow gator graduates the best of luck, I’ll miss this team so much!
Cecy will be attending the University of Michigan in the fall and majoring in psychology!
Juliana Skopp-Cardillo
Juliana has swam with the Gators since age 5, swimming on relay teams that qualified for Allstars in nine seasons, with five of those teams still holding team records. Juliana was awarded the 2021 NVSL Sportsmanship Scholarship.
Juliana, the consummate athlete, also played travel basketball and soccer, club lacrosse and volleyball, until she finally narrowed done her athletic choice to swim. As a high school swimmer for West Potomac High School, Julianna reached States three of the four years, and was female MVP and Captain in her senior year.
This fall, Juliana will be pursuing a degree in Fashion Studies at Montclair State University and continuing her swim career on the school's team.
Juliana has shared some remarkable memories of her years as a Gator along with special thanks in her Reflections of a Gator. And, of course, one more Gator Grunt for the road!
Andrei Zaitsev
Andrei started swimming with the gators when he was 5 years old. By 7, he had made his first A meet, and won his first race in an A meet in backstroke. From that moment on, the months of June and July every summer were all about gator swim team.
On the team, Andrei earned the MVP runner up award at 8 and 12 years old, and the MVP award for the 9-10s and overall boys MVP at 10 years old. That was a big year for Andrei, when he smashed the MVP team record for the 9-10 backstroke and placed 6th in individual all stars for that event, and 10th in freestyle. His relay teams made all star relays from 8 to 14 years old. Many of those relay teams broke MVP team records, most of which have since been broken again. He earned divisional swim plaques for a number of swims through the years. More meaningful to Andrei was being awarded the coaches award in 2012 and 2013, and the sportsmanship award in 2015. Andrei started coaching for the team that same year, and has enjoyed working with younger gators, growing his coaching skills and serving as a core coach these past few years. This year, Andrei won the NVSL Spirit Scholarship Award.
Outside of the team, Andrei has been very involved in school activities and his community. He served on the West Potomac Varsity Swim team for 4 years, swimming in regionals each year, and he rowed for the West Potomac Crew Team during spring seasons. Andrei also plays the french horn and enjoyed playing in concert band at West Potomac, earning spots in the all district bands, as well as participating in the marching and pep bands at football games. Andrei served in boy scouts for nearly as long as he has been a gator, earning the rank of Eagle a few years ago. Andrei is also a member of the National Honors Society and graduated with honors.
Andrei particularly remembers looking up to the older team coaches and being called a ‘Russian Machine’ by Paul when he was little. Andrei would like to thank his coaches, friends and family for all their support.
Andrei will be attending Virginia Tech next year studying Engineering (interest in Computers).
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