Naperville Swim Conference

TEAM SPOTLIGHT: Ashbury Alligators 🐊🌊

Formed in 1994 and coming into 2025 with more momentum than ever — the Ashbury Alligators are fired up, record-breaking, and bringing their whole neighborhood along for the ride.

Let's talk about what's been happening in Alligator waters.

🐊 A RECORD NUMBER AT CLASSIC AND CITY
The Alligators sent their highest number of swimmers to Classic and City Championships in years. Not a handful. Not a modest turnout. A record. That's a program that is growing, thriving, and showing up when it matters most. Every swimmer in that cap earned their spot — and the Alligators showed up as a team.

🐊 A LONG-STANDING POOL RECORD — GONE
The 11/12 boys came to swim this season and made history doing it. A long-standing pool record that had been on the books for years? Broken. That's the kind of moment that gets talked about for a long time in Ashbury.

🐊 THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARADE — WITH CANDY AND A WATER FIGHT
Okay, this might be our favorite tradition in the entire NSC. The Ashbury Alligators don't just parade through their neighborhood before a big meet — they bring candy AND start a water fight with the neighbors who come out to cheer them on. The community doesn't just watch the parade. They're part of it. Soaking wet and loving every second. If that's not the spirit of summer swimming, we don't know what is.

🐊 HOSTING THE SOUTHSIDE INVITATIONAL
The Alligators also have the honor of hosting the Southside Invitational — bringing together all the teams that feed into Neuqua Valley High School for a day of fierce, fun competition. Swimmers racing against their peers. Future Wildcats competing side by side before they ever share a hallway.

Founded in 1994 and better than ever in 2025 — the Ashbury Alligators are record-breakers, parade-throwers, and one of the most electric communities in the NSC.

Ashbury Alligators, the NSC is cheering for you. Keep chomping. 🐊💙

TEAM SPOTLIGHT: Tall Grass Lightning ⚡🌊

Incorporated in 2002 and hitting the pool for the first time in 2003 — the Tall Grass Lightning have spent over two decades building one of the most spirited, community-rooted programs in the NSC. And they are just getting started.

⚡ 25+ HIGH SCHOOL COACHES WHO NEVER LEFT
Here's the detail that stops us in our tracks. Tall Grass has more than 25 high school coaches on deck — kids who grew up swimming for the Lightning and came back to lead the next generation. If that doesn't tell you everything about the culture this team has built, nothing will.

⚡ BAG TAGS OVER RIBBONS
Forget the ribbons. At Tall Grass, time drops earn bag tags — a fun, wearable celebration of personal improvement that swimmers can show off all season long. It's a small detail that says a lot: this team celebrates YOUR progress, not just the podium.

⚡ FUN FRIDAYS + THE CLASSIC PARADE & PASTA PARTY
Every Friday brings something fun, and the tradition doesn't stop there. Before Classic and City meets, the Lightning throw a pasta party AND a neighborhood parade — because the biggest meets of the summer deserve a proper sendoff.

⚡ SPONSORSHIP DAY & GIVING BACK
Tall Grass shines a spotlight on the local and neighborhood-owned businesses that support the team through their annual Sponsorship Day — because community support goes both ways. And at their movie nights over the years, they've collected donations for dog shelters and other charities, because this team knows that swimming is better when it's connected to something bigger.

Open to everyone — no membership required. Just bring your love of swimming and your competitive spirit.

Tall Grass Lightning, the NSC loves having you. Keep striking. ⚡💙

It's that time of year. The pool is opening, the swim bag is packed, and your swimmer has just informed you that their goal this summer is to break every record in the NSC, win every event, and also eat a snow cone after every meet.

Love the energy. Let's talk about goals. 😄

Setting goals before the season is one of the best things you can do as a swim family — but there's an art to it. Here's how to find the sweet spot.

🎯 MAKE IT THEIR GOAL, NOT YOURS
Your goals for your swimmer and your swimmer's goals are not always the same thing. The ones you set together should come from THEM. Ask what they want to get better at, what would make them proud, and then actually listen. Even if the answer is "I just want to have fun and eat snacks." Write it down. Valid.

🎯 FOCUS ON WHAT THEY CAN CONTROL
Time drops are great — but nerves, conditions, and meet day chaos all play a role. Help them set process goals too. "I want to work on my flip turns" beats "I want to go faster" every time. Those are things they can show up and control every single day.

🎯 KEEP THE LIST SHORT
One to three goals. That's it. A swimmer laser focused on two things will outgrow a swimmer chasing ten every time. Write them somewhere visible — the bathroom mirror, the swim bag, anywhere but the refrigerator.

🎯 CHECK IN, DON'T HOVER
Mid-season, ask casually: "how do you feel about your goals?" Not a performance review. Not a post-meet debrief. Just a conversation. Then let them lead.

🎯 CELEBRATE THE PROCESS
The swimmers who feel most successful at the end of the summer aren't always the ones who dropped the most time — they're the ones who know they showed up and grew. Make sure your kid knows that's what you're cheering for.

Here's to a great season, swim families. 🌊💙

Today we pause before we dive in. 💙

Memorial Day is more than the unofficial start of summer. It's a day to honor the men and women who gave everything so that we could have days like this — days filled with laughter on the pool deck, early morning practices, and the kind of community that makes a neighborhood feel like home.

We don't take that lightly.

To every military family in the NSC community — thank you. To every swimmer, parent, coach, and volunteer who has a loved one who served or is serving — we see you today, and we are grateful.

And when the moment of remembrance passes and the starting blocks fill up and the water starts flying — we hope you feel it. The joy of a new season. The excitement of a fresh start. The warmth of a community that has been counting down to this moment all year long.

Twenty teams. Hundreds of swimmers. One incredible summer ahead.

The Naperville Swim Conference season is officially here. Let's make it one worth remembering. 🌊

Happy Memorial Day from all of us at the NSC. 🇺🇸💙

TEAM SPOTLIGHT: Stillwater Starz ⭐🌊

Founded in 1997 and growing stronger every single year — the Stillwater Starz are proof that when you build something with the right values at the center, people show up. And they keep coming back.

🌟 GROWING LIKE CRAZY — FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS
Over the last seven years, summer registration has grown by more than 70%. That's not a marketing campaign. That's word of mouth. The Starz offer something for everyone — from first-time swimmers to seasoned competitors chasing personal bests all summer long.

🌟 THE ONLY TEAM IN THE NSC WITH EVENING PRACTICES
Busy kids. Working families. Real life. The Starz get it — which is why they're the only team in the conference to offer an evening practice option alongside their standard five-day morning schedule. Great swimmers shouldn't have to choose between the pool and everything else on their plate.

🌟 A 2025 TO CELEBRATE
A winning record in dual meet competition AND the first-place girls trophy at the Southside Invitational at Ashbury — for the very first time. First place. First time. That's a moment this team will remember. ⭐

🌟 FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN
Every year the team packs meals at Feed My Starving Children in Aurora as a reminder that a fun-filled summer of swimming is a gift, not a given. They want their swimmers to understand how fortunate they are — and how good it feels to give back. That's not just a great swim team. That's a great community.

🌟 A TEAM FOR EVERYONE — AND WE MEAN EVERYONE
Culturally, ethnically, and in terms of swimming experience — the Stillwater Starz are one of the most diverse teams in the NSC. Families from every walk of life, neighborhoods across the southwest side, and club swimmers from four or more USA Swimming clubs all call this team home in the summer. No matter who you are, you will be warmly welcomed and you will find your people here.

No membership required. No neighborhood restriction. Just open arms and a star on your cap.

Stillwater Starz, the NSC is so glad you're here. Keep shining. ⭐💙

TEAM SPOTLIGHT: Maplebrook II Dolphins 🐬🌊

Founded in 1971 and still rewriting the record books in 2025 — the Maplebrook II Dolphins are record-breakers, door-sign-leavers, car-decorators, and one of the most genuinely joyful communities in the NSC. Here's why.

🐬 RECORDS BROKEN. NAMES TO KNOW.
Avery Meisenheimer, Macy Fults, Lauren Eschmeyer, and Natalie Vogel shattered BOTH the pool AND team records in the 15-18 Girls 200 Medley Relay. Lauren Eschmeyer also set a new team record in the 50 fly. Add a massive number of time drops and outstanding swims at City and Classic — this team delivered all season long.

🐬 THE INTERSQUAD MEET
Boy swimmers dress up in character with girl coaches. Girl swimmers dress up in a different character with boy coaches. Then they race — corkscrew races, dolphin dives, relays, and beautiful chaos. It's competitive, hilarious, and completely their own.

🐬 CHAMPIONSHIP MORNING MAGIC
The morning of every championship meet, every Dolphins swimmer wakes up to a motivational sign on their front door — left by their coaches. Before the nerves. Before the blocks. Their coaches show up for them first. That says everything.

🐬 PASTA PARTIES, DECORATED CARS & THE BLUE DOLPHIN AWARD
Before City and Classic, kids decorate coaches' cars and sign their t-shirts at the pasta party. And at season's end, the Blue Dolphin Award goes to one boy and one girl per age group — not the fastest swimmer, but the one who works hardest, improves the most, and lifts everyone around them. The award that matters most.

🐬 BLUE DOLPHIN BOYS INVITATIONAL — JUNE 25TH!
Now in its second year, this 5-team boys-only invite features fun relays and is already a beloved new tradition. Mark your calendars!

Maplebrook II Dolphins, the NSC loves everything about you. Keep making waves. 🐬💙

TEAM SPOTLIGHT: Cress Creek Cobras 🐍🌊

Established in 1967 and still going strong nearly six decades later — the Cress Creek Cobras are one of the NSC's most energetic, fun, and proudly spirited programs. And this summer, they are bringing everything they've got.

Here's what makes the Cobras one of a kind.

🏆 3 TEAM RECORDS BROKEN IN 2025
The Cobras came into this season and got right to work. Three team records fell in 2025 — a testament to a group of athletes who show up, put in the effort, and keep raising the bar for what's possible in a Cress Creek cap.

🐍 THE SEASON-LONG TEAM COMPETITION
Here's where things get really fun. The Cobras run a season-long competition across all their age groups, where swimmers compete in games and relays all summer long. It's not just about the dual meets — it's about building bonds, stoking that competitive fire, and making sure every single swimmer feels like they're part of something bigger than any one race. By the end of the summer, the whole team has grown together in ways that go way beyond the pool.

🏊 🚴 🏃 THE MINI TRIATHLON
The Cobras know their swimmers are more than just swimmers — they're multi-sport athletes through and through. So they do something pretty special: they sponsor a mini triathlon that lets every athlete show off ALL of their skills. Swim, bike, run — the full picture. It's one of the most unique traditions in the entire NSC, and honestly, we're here for it.

Energetic. Fun. Proud. That's how the Cobras describe themselves — and after one look at what this community has built since 1967, it's hard to argue with a single word of it.

Open to everyone — no neighborhood requirement, just a love of swimming and a competitive spirit to match. Come find your people at Cress Creek. 🐍💙

Nobody warned you about this part.

You showed up. You found a chair. You slathered on sunscreen. You watched your swimmer absolutely crush their first event at 8:07am. And now it is 8:45am and their next event isn't until 10:00 a.m. and you have consumed three cups of coffee and you are not entirely sure what to do with yourself.

Welcome to the swim meet in-between. It's a whole thing. Here's how to survive it — and maybe even enjoy it. 😄

☀️ EMBRACE THE CONCESSION STAND
This is not the time to diet. A swim meet concession stand is a sacred institution. Donuts, hot dogs at 9am, mystery Gatorade flavors — all of it is fair game. Budget accordingly. Tip generously. The volunteers running that stand showed up before you did.

💬 TALK TO OTHER PARENTS
Here's a secret: every other parent sitting around you is also wondering what to do between events. Strike up a conversation. Ask which team their kid swims for. Complain about the heat together. Bond over the shared experience of reading a heat sheet upside down. Some of the best NSC friendships have started exactly this way.

📸 ACTUALLY WATCH THE OTHER EVENTS
Radical idea, we know. But there is something genuinely thrilling about watching a close race between kids who aren't even yours. Cheer for everyone. The NSC is full of incredible young athletes — take a minute to appreciate all of them.

🚶 TAKE A LAP
Stretch your legs. Walk the pool deck. Find the shade. Locate the nearest bathroom for future reference — this is critical meet day intelligence that will pay dividends later. You're welcome.

📖 BRING SOMETHING TO DO
A book. A podcast. A crossword. We're not here to judge. A two-hour swim meet can feel like four if you're just sitting there staring at the heat sheet. Come prepared and you'll be the most relaxed person on the pool deck.

The in-betweens are actually some of the best parts of a swim meet — if you lean into them. Community, conversation, concession stand pastries, and the occasional unexpected underdog story unfolding right in front of you.

See you on the pool deck. 🌊💙

TEAM SPOTLIGHT: Naperville Tennis Club Swim Team Orcas 🐋🌊

Established in 1973 and still growing — the NTC Orcas are having a moment.

Here's what's been happening in Orca waters.

🐋 THEY GREW — AND THEY'RE GROWING AGAIN
61 swimmers in 2024. 85 swimmers in 2025. And signs point to even more this year. That kind of growth doesn't happen by accident — it happens when families join a team, love what they find, and tell everyone they know. The Orcas are building something special, one swimmer at a time.

🐋 OVER 50% AT CHAMPIONSHIPS
Here's a stat that says everything about this team's culture: more than half of their entire roster showed up to Championship meets last season. Not just the fastest swimmers. Not just the most competitive. More than half the team, together, cheering each other on when it mattered most. That's community.

🐋 BIG ORCA / LITTLE ORCA & FUN FRIDAY DONUTS
Every Friday, the Orcas close out the week the right way — Big Orca/Little Orca games, team bonding, and donuts for everyone. Because nothing says "great week of practice" like a glazed donut on the pool deck. It's the kind of tradition that makes swimmers excited to show up even on a Friday morning.

🐋 3RD ANNUAL 8 & UNDER INVITATIONAL — JULY 11TH!
The Orcas know that their youngest swimmers deserve their own moment in the spotlight — which is exactly why they created their 8 & Under Invitational, now in its third year! On Saturday, July 11th, the meet is all about the littlest competitors, with regular races PLUS fan-favorite fun relays like the t-shirt relay, beachball relay, coaches relay, and the crowd-pleasing parent relay.

Membership in the Naperville Tennis Club is required to swim with the Orcas — but if you're already a member, this is the team your family has been waiting for.

NTC Orcas, the NSC is cheering for you. Keep swimming. 🐋💙