Coaches and Directors
Alison Winters Hanson has been Head Coach of the Gators since 2019. She is married to Eric and has two daughters, Lydia and Marin. Alison is the 3rd - 5th grade Art Teacher at the Mount Horeb Intermediate Center. She's also a member of the PTO and a proud swim mom. Alison began swimming as a freshman at Monona Grove and loved every minute, earning a scholarship for swimming to UW Green Bay where she was a sprint freestyle and backstroke specialist. Alison has been swimming on a variety of adult teams over the years, including the Gators, which is how she got this job. She's very ready for a summer by the pool and watching all the Gators do their very best.
Kaitlin brings a lifelong love of swimming to the pool deck. Originally from Northeast Ohio, she swam competitively for the Wooster YMCA, Firestone Akron Swim Team (FAST), and Cloverleaf High School, qualifying for Zones and setting multiple school and pool records that still stand today. After stepping away from competition to attend Fashion Design School at Kent State University in Ohio, and start her career, Kaitlin’s passion for the sport was rekindled when her daughter—and later her son—began swimming competivetly. Now a certified USA Swimming coach, Kaitlin also coaches with Badger Aquatics Club, she’s excited to share her experience and love for swimming with the next generation of athletes.
Hello, my name is Kennedy! I am in my 3rd year of school at Stevens Point for Family and Consumer Science Education. I am also a substitute teacher at the Mount Horeb Schools and work at the Shoebox. I was a Gator for 8 years growing up, and it was always a highlight of my summers. I always loved the cheers at the beginning of meets, the team socials, and just cheering on my friends :) That is why I am excited to get back into the Gator spirit by being a coach! In the summertime, if I am not at the pool with the team or away at a meet, I am outside with my golden retriever who also loves to swim, weightlifting, or just laying on my porch swing.
I am excited and ready for an awesome 2024 season!
Kalista is really looking forward to her first season of coaching with the Gators! She attended UW- Madison, where she was a member of the marching band and received a degree in Early Childhood Education. She now works as a kindergarten teacher in the Madison school district. Growing up, she swam for the Gators for many years. She also swam for the Verona-Mount Horeb High School team and worked as an instructor for SwimWest. Kalista is excited to be back at the pool this summer and can't wait to cheer on her swimmers!
Samantha Hanson, known to most as Sam, is wrapping up her junior year at Mount Horeb High School. A dedicated swimmer, she’s been part of the Gators Swim Club for seven years and currently competes on both the Mount Horeb High School and Verona Area Swim Teams. Her passion for the water began early at age four and has never looked back. Outside the pool, Sam is a multi-talented student involved in a variety of extracurriculars, including high school band as a flute player and the National Honor Society. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, painting, sewing, crocheting, and getting lost in a good book. Sam is especially excited to give back by teaching young kids how to swim this summer, just like others did for her when she was starting.
I’ve been involved with the MoHo Gators swim team for about 14 years as a parent, coach, fan and masters swimmer. My love for swimming has grown over the years and my entire family actively participates in the sport at many levels. Coaching swimming and getting to see the growth of so many athletes in a short, fun-filled season is a highlight of my summer!
Growing up in the Green Bay area, I graduated from Pulaski High School in 1996. Aside from my involvement in swimming, I also have a background in track and field. From 1996 to 1997, I ran for the University of Alabama. From 1998 to 2002, I had the incredible opportunity to run middle distance for the University of Wisconsin Madison. During my time there, I pursued a degree in Kinesiology-Teacher Prep, which further deepened my passion for both sports and education.
Professionally, I have been working as a travel counselor at Epic for over 10 years, and recently, my husband, Matt, and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary. We often joke that, in another decade, we will probably find ourselves at a swim meet, celebrating our 30th anniversary.
