Farewell Gator Leaders

When our children were younger, we remember attending our 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 left high school. We remember thinking then that there must be something truly special about swimming if it was turning out kids like this.

We built this senior page so that all team members can get to know our graduating seniors, who will be honored at the final home A meet against Donaldson Run. Click on each name to read "Reflections of a Gator."

Jim & Tonda Phalen

Kevin was part of the 15-18 medley relay that broke a 40 year-old pool record and also a part of the mixed age relay that broke a 27 year-old pool record. Since then, he has broken 4 of the 5 boys’ 15-18 MVP individual event records 50 breast, 50 back, and IM. He was nominated to the Washington Post All-Met team in the Honorable Mention category. Kevin holds the boys 50 free record at West Potomac. Kevin is a rising senior at West Potomac and swimming is definitely in is future as he looks ahead toward college. If you can’t find Kevin in the pool, you can most likely find him in his kayak fishing on the river.

Jessie has been a Gator for five years. She is a year round competitive swimmer with NCAP, and an MVP winter and summer coach. Jessie is an excellent student, who has excelled in science, history, apologetics and French.

Jessie will attend Marymount University, where she plans to swim for the Saints and study biochemistry

The leader of the Gators.

Outside the pool, Tristan is All-Met in Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track. He is heading to Williams College to join his brother and Gator alum, Griffin.

Anna Fracasso has been on the Mt. Vernon Park Swim Team since she was five years old and has Coached MVP Summer swim and Winter swim for 4 years. She also did club swimming for 4 years.

Anna graduated from Bishop Ireton High School, Magna Cum Laude. While at BI, she was on Varsity Swim Team (Captain), Varsity Field Hockey (Captain), Lacrosse and Track. She was a member of the National Honor Society, Math Club, Peer Helper, BI Ambassadors and President of the Beta Club. Anna played clarinet in Wind Ensemble for all four years.

Anna will be going to James Madison University and plans to major in Biology.

Gus learned to swim at Mount Vernon park. Spent the summer of '98 sleeping in a stroller beside the baby pool while his brother played in the pool. By three years old Gus had managed to get a lifeguard to let him jump off the old "high dive". And by 6 Gus was a gator. He has spent every summer since swimming at MVP. He's been to all stars, A meets, B meets, practices and even participated in early morning swim off season. Gus has participated in high school swimming as well as water polo, golf and his real passion baseball.

Gus is headed to the College of Charleston, where he will be studying Exercise Science.

Sarah Jones began swimming for Mount Vernon Park when she was 6 years old, making this her 13th season swimming as a Gator. In addition to swimming for Mount Vernon Park, she swam several years and coached one year for Nations Capital Swim Club and swam her freshman and sophomore years at West Potomac High School. Sarah was a member of the National Honor Society while at West Potomac, and she was on the High List during each quarter of her junior and senior years at Episcopal High School, maintaining an A average all through high school. Sarah also played the saxophone during her 4 years of high school and was selected to participate in All-District band.

Sarah graduated from Episcopal High School and will be attending the College of William and Mary in the fall where she will receive a scholarship to play Division I lacrosse.

Mollie Passacantando began her career with the MVP Gators at age 5. Mollie was a five time member of All Star Relay teams. She was a recipient of the sportsmanship and leadership awards, and has served as both a summer and winter coach. Mollie graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology this year. She is the recipient of several national awards for her environmental work. She was a varsity rower at TJ and a member of the first varsity boat for Resilient Rowing Club, earning an All-Met Honorable Mention this past spring season.

Mollie will attend Rutgers University in the fall as a Big Ten conference scholarship athlete in women’s rowing. She will be an honors student in the College of Environmental and Biological Sciences, where she plans to pursue a career in oceanography.

Kaila also attended TJ, and has been a Gator summer and winter coach, teaching many of the Gators we see swimming today. Outside the pool you can find Kaila on the soccer field. She will be attending the University of Virginia in the fall.

Kevin Adams-Mardi

Jessie Bricker

Tristan Colaizzi

Click here for Anna's Gator memories

Gus Leyden

Mollie Passacantando

Kaila Stein