SWIM PREVIEW: Lethbridge ready to host 2025 Canada West Swimming Championships

Nov. 26, 2025 - Swimmers from six Canada West programs are ready to make waves in southern Alberta this weekend as the University of Lethbridge hosts the 2025 Canada West Swimming Championships, presented by Team Aquatic Supplies and Commercial Aquatic Supplies.

Competitors from Lethbridge, UBC, Calgary, Regina, Victoria, and Manitoba will hit the pool Friday through Sunday at the Max Bell Regional Aquatic Centre, located on the campus of the University of Lethbridge.

The meet features two sessions each day and a packed schedule of nearly 40 events across both men's and women's competitions.

A full schedule and live results for the event are available on the event homepage, and all six sessions will be available to stream on CanadaWest.TV - Powered by BioSteel.

UBC Thunderbirds look to defend their titles

Last year's championships were highlighted by a historic showing from the the UBC Thunderbirds, who swept both the men’s and women’s titles before going on to capture the U SPORTS national championships as well.

With many standouts returning, the Thunderbirds have begun the 2025-26 season in dominant fashion. They overwhelmed the field at their home University Cup Pacific meet earlier this month, winning both team titles and producing an incredible 70 podium finishes across 42 events, including setting nine meet records. Both UBC teams hold down the number one spot in the latest U SPORTS swimming rankings.

On the women’s side, Emma O’Croinin was a driving force with eight first-place finishes (four individual, four relay). She helped set a new meet record in the 4×100m medley relay alongside teammates Eloise Allen, Bridget Burton, and Sela Wist.

UBC will be seeking its fourth straight Canada West women’s title, having won all but one conference crown since 2010.

In the men’s competition, UBC again boasts one of the deepest rosters in the nation.

Australian sensation Kai Lilienthal was the standout at University Cup Pacific, dominating the butterfly events and breaking meet records in both the 50m and 100m races. He also contributed to another meet record in the 4×50m freestyle relay with teammates Canek Bracho Maganda, Frank Ho, and Yuri Kisil.

Strong competition in the field

While the Thunderbirds appear formidable, look for the Calgary Dinos to provide a strong challenge in the race for the conference crowns. Both Dinos teams will enter the competition ranked third in the nation.

On the women’s side, Calgary is looking for its first conference title since the 2021–22 season and will rely heavily on Alexanne Lepage. The third-year phenom swept all four of her individual events at University Cup Pacific, highlighted by a decisive win in the 400 IM, more than four seconds clear of the field. She added victories in the 100 breaststroke, 200 breaststroke, and 200 IM to complete a dominant weekend.

Rookie Rosie Housman also impressed with a silver-medal performance in the 200 backstroke.

On the men’s side, Nicholas Duncan delivered a strong showing in Vancouver with podium finishes in four races, including a win in the 100m IM, where he touched the wall just ahead of teammate Ian Cameron.

The Victoria Vikes also arrive in Lethbridge with confidence after several strong showings at University Cup Pacific, with both of their teams ranked eighth in the nation.

The Vikes' men’s relay teams delivered the program’s best finishes of the meet, with Ryan Murphy, Jordan Raume, Keir Ogilvie, and Ricky Millns racing to third place in both the 200m adn 400m medley relays.

Lydia James-Brennan also showed well, nabbing fourth in the 400M freestyle.

Hosting the Canada West championships for the first time since 2022, Lethbridge fans will have plenty to cheer for. The Pronghorns hope to build on the momentum of a strong University Cup Pacific performance that saw four program records fall.

Delaney Lehman set a new program mark in the 100m freestyle, while Grace Hitchcock broke the school record in the 400m freestyle. Both the men’s and women’s squads also established new Pronghorns records in the 200m freestyle relay.

The Pronghorns women are also nationally ranked, holding down the seventh spot.

Ticketing Information

Tickets are now available for the 2025 Canada West Swimming Championships by visiting this link.

COMPETITION SCHEDULE (All times MT)

Friday, Nov. 28

4 p.m. - 5 p.m. (Preliminary Heats): 50m Butterfly, 50m Backstroke, 50m Breaststroke, 800m Freestyle

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. (Finals): 800m Freestyle, 1500m Freestyle, 50m Butterfly, 50m Backstroke, 50m Breaststroke, 4x200m Freestyle Relay

Saturday, Nov. 29

10 a.m. - Noon (Preliminary Heats): 50m Freestyle, 400m IM, 100m Butterfly, 200m Backstroke, 100m Breaststroke, 200m Freestyle

5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. (Finals): 50m Freestyle, 400m IM, 100m Butterfly, 200m Backstroke, 100m Breaststroke, 200m Freestyle, 4x100m Freestyle Relay

Sunday, Nov. 30

9 a.m. - 11 a.m. (Preliminary Heats): 200m Butterfly, 100m Freestyle, 200m IM, 100m Backstroke, 200m Breaststroke, 400m Freestyle

3 p.m. - 5 p.m. (Finals): 200m Butterfly, 100m Freestyle, 200m IM, 100m Backstroke, 200m Breaststroke, 400m Freestyle, 4x100m Medley Relay

2026 U SPORTS Championships

The U SPORTS Swimming Championships will take place March 12 to 14, hosted by McMaster in Markham, Ont.

Women's Swimming U SPORTS Rankings - Nov. 25, 2025

Men's Swimming U SPORTS Rankings - Nov. 25, 2025