Alligator Aquatics

What Alligator Aquatics does

Alligator Aquatics (legal name: Arlington Alligator Swim Club, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit competitive swimming club founded in 1978 and headquartered in Arlington Heights, Illinois, serving the Chicago northwest suburban corridor. The club provides year-round competitive swim training for youth athletes ages 5-18, organized into four progressive training groups — Bionic Gators (5-9), Phoenix Gators (8-12), Blaze Gators (11-16), and Apex Gators (12-18) — plus a Masters program for adults. The program is chartered under USA Swimming, has achieved Level 3 Recognition, and operates as a Safe Sport Recognized Program in partnership with the U.S. Center for SafeSport. Its core product is structured competitive coaching led by Head Coach & CEO Stacy Cassiday, a 7-time Illinois High School State Champion, 14-time Collegiate All-American, and 2-time Olympic Trial qualifier, supported by a small volunteer board and two assistant coaches.

The business model is membership-based and donation-supported, with revenue drawn from recurring annual membership fees, an annual Splash for Cash fundraiser (targeting $20,000 in 2026), the RaiseRight gift card program, corporate and local business sponsorships, merchandise sales via the Gator Shop (partnered with All American Swim and Arena), and tax-deductible individual donations. Operations are powered by third-party sports management platforms — SportsEngine for website, registration, scheduling, and communications; TeamUnify OnDeck and GoMotion for mobile member access; and Smore for the monthly Gator Gazette newsletter. The club's distribution is direct-to-consumer through its website and the USA Swimming online member registration system, with marketing driven by social media, community events, and earned-media coverage of collegiate athlete placements at NCAA Division I and II programs.

Name

Alligator Aquatics

Legal name

Arlington Alligator Swim Club, Inc.

Website

https://alligatoraquatics.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Alligator Aquatics is a 501(c)(3) non-profit competitive swimming club founded in 1978 in Arlington Heights, Illinois, providing year-round training for 140+ youth athletes ages 5-18 plus an adult Masters program, supported by membership fees, fundraising, and sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Competitive Swim Training

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Aquatics Programs (Pools, Swim Lessons, Lifeguarding) (EDALAIAF)

Keywords

• Competitive swim training
• Youth swimming program
• USA swimming club
• Age-group swim club
• Aquatic sports coaching

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington Heights

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from competitive swimmers in the program. The club is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation supported primarily by membership fees and fundraising efforts.
2. Fundraising: Programs include Splash for Cash annual fundraiser (2026 goal: $20,000), RaiseRight gift card program, and corporate matching donation programs.
3. Merchandise Sales: Gator Shop sales of team gear and apparel through All American Swim and Arena.
4. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate and business sponsorship program with various advertising and recognition benefits.
5. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the not-for-profit swim program.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Alligator Aquatics is a private, year-round competitive youth swim club founded in 1978 that delivers guided age-group training from beginner to elite levels for athletes ages 5-18, organized into progressive training groups (Bionic, Phoenix, Blaze, and Apex Gators) plus an adult Masters program. The club operates under USA Swimming governance, is coached by USA Swimming and ASCA certified coaches, and fields athletes in sanctioned regional, sectional, and national meets while supporting a documented collegiate recruiting pipeline.

Product overview

Alligator Aquatics is a private, year-round competitive swim club founded in 1978, operating as a single unified program with multiple interconnected offerings. The core product is the competitive swim training program organized into progressive training groups (Bionic, Phoenix, Blaze, and Apex Gators) for athletes ages 5-18. Supporting this core are add-on modules including swim meets and events, the Gator Gazette monthly newsletter, the Gator Shop merchandise store, a Safe Sport program, championship time standards resources, an officials training program, team records database, and various fundraising programs. The program is supported by USA Swimming membership registration integration and powered by SportsEngine technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Alligator Aquatics Swim Program
• Training Groups
• Swim Meets & Events
• Gator Shop
• Officials Training Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple athletes competing at NCAA Division I collegiate programs including Southern Illinois University, Saint Louis University, Ball State University, and Lewis University
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• USA SwimmingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational governing body for competitive swimming in the United States. Alligator Aquatics is a chartered USA Swimming club program with coaches certified through USA Swimming. All swimmers must be USA Swimming members.
• Illinois Swimming (LSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Swimming Committee (LSC) governing competitive swimming in Illinois. The club operates under Illinois Swimming jurisdiction for sanctioned meets and competitions.
• Central ZoneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional arm of USA Swimming covering the central United States. The club participates in Central Zone championship events.
• ArenaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPremium swim apparel and gear brand. Arena is listed as a sponsor/partner, with the Gator Shop directing members to purchase Arena products.
• SportsEnginecoreTechnology or IntegrationSports platform provider powering the Alligator Aquatics website, registration system, team management, and communication tools.
• One Simple WishminorOthersOnline platform for granting wishes to those impacted by foster care or childhood crisis. Alligator Aquatics selected One Simple Wish as their holiday giving partner in 2023.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• New Trier Swim Club: USA Swimming-affiliated competitive youth swim club based in Winnetka, Illinois (Chicago northern suburbs). Comparable in scale, training-group structure, year-round program, and USA Swimming charter; competes in many of the same Illinois Swimming sanctioned meets.
• Chicago Wolfpack Aquatic Club: Competitive USA Swimming club operating in the greater Chicago area with age-group training and competitive meet participation. Directly comparable in geographic market, target demographic (youth athletes), and program structure.
• Academy Bullets Swim Club: Illinois-based USA Swimming club with a strong collegiate placement record. Operates a similar year-round age-group program with progressive training groups; functions as a peer benchmark for athlete development outcomes in the same Illinois Swimming LSC.
• Patriot Aquatics: USA Swimming competitive youth program in the Illinois suburbs with year-round age-group training groups and a collegiate pipeline. Overlaps directly with Alligator Aquatics in program design, governance model, and athlete development focus.
• St. Charles Swim Team: USA Swimming-affiliated competitive swim club in St. Charles, Illinois, serving youth athletes in the western suburbs. Comparable membership-based, year-round training model with age-group progression and meets-based competition.
• Fox Valley Swim Team: Illinois-based USA Swimming year-round competitive club serving youth athletes in the western Chicago suburbs. Directly comparable in mission, age-group training structure, and participation in Illinois Swimming and Central Zone competitions.

Broad incumbents

• USA Swimming: National governing body for competitive swimming in the United States. Alligator Aquatics is chartered under USA Swimming and all its swimmers hold USA Swimming memberships; the governing body sets the framework within which the club operates.
• Illinois Swimming (LSC): Local Swimming Committee governing competitive swimming in Illinois. Alligator Aquatics operates under Illinois Swimming jurisdiction for sanctioned meets and championship qualification; an umbrella-level incumbent rather than a direct program competitor.

Others

• Arena: Premium swim apparel and equipment brand that serves as a marketing/merchandise partner (Gator Shop directs members to Arena products). Adjacent enabler rather than a direct competitor, but relevant for understanding the club's commercial partnerships.
• SportsEngine: Youth and amateur sports technology platform that powers Alligator Aquatics' website, registration, scheduling, and communication. Functions as an ecosystem technology vendor rather than a competitor; relevant because it underpins the club's member-facing digital experience.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AlligatorSwim
• Facebookfacebook.com/169741906417924
• Instagraminstagram.com/alligator_aquatics
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alligator-aquatics

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alligator Aquatics