Naji Ali has been coaching and teaching swimming for over 20 years. He is ASCA (American Swimming Coaches Association) Level II certified and an accomplished open water marathon swimmer. His passion for swimming centers around his desire to teach Black and Brown children and adults how to swim regardless of ability to pay. Aside from his role as Head Coach for Race Swami Belle Haven, Naji is the proud head coach of the Oakland Tech high school swim team and actively teaches and coaches in the Oakland Parks and Rec summer league. Previously, Naji served as the development coach for Oakland Undercurrents. Naji's inspiration for swimming is a result of his long-term relationship with his swimming mentor - Malachi Cunningham - one of the first African Americans to coach at the NCAA level.​



With a competitive swimming career spanning from age five through high school and collegiate competition, Lulu Estrada brings a lifetime of experience to the pool deck. Coaching has become her way of giving back, sharing the knowledge gained through years of training to help others discover the joy of swimming. Having coached alongside professional NCAA coaches, Lulu brings a high-level mindset, technical dedication, and supportive guidance to every athlete. Whether focusing on building fundamental skills or pushing for performance gains, Lulu is passionate about helping swimmers continuously elevate their abilities. For her, swimming is more than a sport—it is a "safe and happy place" that provides mental balance and fuels the motivation to empower others to find the same joy in the water.



Coach Alix’s lifelong passion for swimming defines her approach to the sport. She champions swimming as a truly lifelong activity that builds both skill and confidence for athletes of all ages. While the Individual Medley (IM) is her favorite event, Alix is currently dedicated to refining her own freestyle technique, proving that there is always room to improve speed and form regardless of age. When she isn’t coaching or training, Alix stays active by playing water polo on the weekends.

Born and raised in East Palo Alto, Mele Taipaleti brings a deep, personal connection to our work. As a mother of three, she understands the importance of providing youth with meaningful opportunities and supportive environments. Although she no longer resides in the area, Mele is dedicated to giving back to the community that shaped her. Through her work with the Race Swami Belle Haven program, she is proud to support local youth and help make a lasting difference for families in the community.

Meredith is a Belle Haven resident who is passionate about equal access to all pools and programs for everyone in Menlo Park. She has been a competitive swimmer for 30+ years and has achieved 43 US Masters Swimming “Top 10” times on a national basis, notably in the 200 Breast, 100 Breast, 100 Free, 50 Free, and IM events. She last coached in the early 2000’s for the Almaden Swim & Racquet Club (today known as “Quicksilver”) and a few cabana clubs in which she coached kids ages 4-18. Meredith is trained on the Total Immersion Program and her coaching philosophy is focused on celebrating achievements, self-improvement, partnering up with a swimmer to achieve their goals, and to take note of the many lessons that swimming imparts on us in the pool and in life. 

With a swimming background that began as a child at the Los Altos Aquatic Club (now Los Altos Mountain View A.C.), Catherine Capriles brings an elite level of expertise to the Race Swami team. A longtime teammate of Executive Director Matt Finnigan, Catherine’s distinguished athletic career includes competing in both the 1984 and 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials and earning four national championship titles at UCSD. Beyond the pool, Catherine had a remarkable 25-year career in the fire service, retiring as the Deputy Fire Chief for the City of Palo Alto in 2018. A member of the St. Francis High School Athletic Hall of Fame, she served as a co-head coach for the St. Francis high school swim teams from 2020–2023, where she dedicated herself to helping student-athletes reach new heights. Catherine is thrilled to bring her extensive leadership experience and passion for swimming to the Race Swami Belle Haven staff.

Co-Founder and Executive Director Matt Finnigan grew up immersed in the Bay Area’s competitive swimming culture, training for 14 years at the Los Altos Aquatic Club. His foundational expertise was shaped by seven years of direct mentorship under the late, legendary coach Kevin Perry. Before co-founding Race Swami, Matt built a highly successful coaching career in Utah, leading the Judge Memorial Catholic High School swim teams to six state titles over eight years. From 2011 to 2021, he led Race Swami’s Salt Lake City site. Since 2021, Matt has served as Executive Director, where he now focuses his efforts on overseeing and expanding Race Swami programs in both Menlo Park and Salt Lake City.