The Naperville Central girls swim team left the pool with more than just wins on Sept. 16, defeating rival Naperville North at the varsity, JV1, and JV2 levels. The Redhawks showcased depth and determination across all events, securing victories that highlighted the team’s strong start to the season.
Alongside the meet, the team hosted a fundraiser in honor of a Naperville Central boys swimmer, Alex Beiga, who passed away a year and a half ago. The event served as a heartfelt tribute, celebrating both athletic success and the lasting bond within the swim community.
From the very first race, Central established itself as the dominant team. The Redhawks opened with a victory in the 200 medley relay, maintaining a lead throughout the night.
“I thought it went really well,” head coach Mike Adams said. “On the JV1 and JV2 level we pretty much destroyed them. On the varsity level, we built a lead and then we won. We got off to a hot start; I think we won the medley and the 200 free.”
Adams added that the team’s success reflected the hard work of every swimmer on the roster.
“We swam through the meet like we’ve been doing all year,” he said. “The girls one through 54 did a great job.”
Senior captain Avery Meisenheimer said the team’s energy and sportsmanship made the night even more memorable.
“The meet overall was really fun,” Meisenheimer said. “Our medley relay was a big highlight – we had close competition in all our relays, but our medley relay won. The camaraderie with North…we always have a really good relationship with them.”
Standout performances came from Lexi Goldstone, who excelled in the 200 individual medley, and Maddie Saccameno, who won the 100-yard butterfly. Meisenheimer said the team is focusing on preparation as they move deeper into the season.
“As a team, we need to work on our meet preparation; warming up and cooling down is really important,” she said. “We’re hoping to come out strong at the end of the year, drop a lot of time on taper, and keep cheering each other on.”
While the competition brought plenty to celebrate, the meet also carried deep emotion. The team hosted a scholarship fundraiser in memory of Beiga, organized by junior Alexa Miller, who was his girlfriend, as well as Saccameno and junior swimmer Audrey Barrett, both close friends of Beiga.
“The scholarship fundraiser was a really cool opportunity to remember Alex,” Meisenheimer said. “Alexa, Maddie and Audrey did a really good job running that. It was a really cool way to honor Alex and start a new tradition that will continue for many years.”
Coach Adams said the event raised about $5,000 through donations and a bake sale, with all proceeds going toward the scholarship fund in Beiga’s name.
“It’s a nice way to remember Alex,” Adams said. “It’s been a good season, and now we need to seize the moment and dare to be great.”
