The story of competitive swimming at Saint Stephen’s is dominated by one name – Ellie Berdusco. The
four-time high school All-American (2011-14) holds seven SSES individual records and three as the
member of relay teams. Berdusco, who went on to swim collegiately at Notre Dame, also owns the
Falcons’ lone state swim/dive championship, winning the 500 freestyle in 2012.
Despite Berdusco’s prominence in the Saint Stephen’s record book, she isn’t the only Falcon who has
made a name for herself in the pool. Allison Moon, who has the only school record on the girls side not
credited to Berdusco – the 100 breaststroke – was a standout in the late 1990s and went on to an
impressive career at the U.S. Naval Academy. Moon won nine Patriot League Championship relay titles,
tying her for the most in Navy history. She was a three-time all-conference selection, and holds
Academy relay records in the 200 medley, 400 medley, 200 freestyle, and 400 freestyle.
Hayley Tilton was a four-year letterwinner for the Falcons in the mid/late-2000s, and her name stood
atop the record book in the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free relay, 200 medley relay, and 400 free relay. She
was a two-time state finalist and went on to swim at Tulane University.
Recent teams have had success both in and out of the pool. Eleven boys have qualified for the state
championship meet over the past six seasons, and the 2016 boys’ team was honored by the FHSAA as
state Academic Champions with a team GPA of 3.785. The 2019 girls made history, and the 2020 team
repeated the feat by bringing home the first post-season trophies ever for SSES, earned thanks to
runner-up finishes at the 1A-District 5 meet. Matching the boys’ accomplishment in 2016, the 2021 SSES
girls were recognized by the FHSAA as state Academic Champions in Class 1A, compiling the highest
overall GPA of any program in Florida.
