SWIM: T-Birds sweep Canada West Swimming Championship titles
VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds delivered a dominant performance at the 2024 Odlum Brown Canada West Swimming Championships, sweeping the team banners and claiming every individual award across three days of intense competition at the UBC Aquatic Centre.
The Thunderbirds broke 12 of the 13 total Canada West records set throughout the weekend en route to claiming both banners.
The Thunderbird women placed first with 1,428 points for their 14th CW title in 15 years, Calgary finished second with 1,110.5, and Victoria was third with 625.5. Alberta was next in the women’s standings with 513 points, while Lethbridge totalled 356.
UBC’s banner in the men’s competition is their first since 2021. They earned the top spot with 1,366 points, Calgary finished the meet in second with 1,143 points, and Alberta was third at 610.5. Victoria (588) and Lethbridge (338.5) rounded out the men’s results.
UBC’s Derrick Schoof was recognized as Coach of the Year on both the men’s and women’s side. Natascha Borromeo and Tanner Cole earned Rookie of the Year honours, while Kayla Sanchez and Finlay Knox won Swimmers of the Year.
The night started with a thrilling four-way battle for the women’s 200m butterfly crown. In the Thunderbird-heavy heat, UBC’s Greta Gulyas and Calgary’s Hayley French were neck and neck for most of the final. UBC's Lora Willar closed in on the two in the last 25m stretch to steal the gold with a time of 2:15.44. French was second (2:15.74) and Gulyas third (2:16.50).
In the men’s 200m butterfly, Alberta Golden Bear Jack Hayhoe took the top spot, touching the wall in a time of 1:58.98. Calgary’s Nicholas Duncan earned the silver medal in 2:00.72, while Victoria’s Keir Ogilvie was third (2:00.99) on the podium that saw three different teams represented.
Olympian Sanchez dominated the women’s 100m freestyle, smashing the standing Canada West record with a personal best time of 51.74 and finishing close to three seconds ahead of the next swimmer. UBC teammates Emma O'Croinin (54.53) and Anna Dumont-Belanger (55.35) were the next two to touch the wall.
The Dinos held the advantage over the ‘Birds in the men’s 100m freestyle. Calgary native Stephen Calkins was able to shave half a second off his prelim time to repeat his 2023 gold in the event with a 48.66 finish. Top qualifier Blake Tierney finished just after in a time of 48.74, followed by T-Birds teammate Siu Lun Ho (49.06).
Fresh off her win in the 200m butterfly finals, Sanchez delivered a 200m individual medley performance that made the feat look easy. The Thunderbird clocked in at 2:09.75, with Emma Spence (2:14.25) and Camryn Stannard (2:14.70) behind to complete a UBC podium sweep.
The men’s 200m individual medley saw a trio of red University of Calgary caps pull ahead in the first 50m. After a tight race for the top spot, it was Charlie Skalenda who got to the wall first in 1:59.20. Teammates Ian Cameron (1:59.56) and Duncan (2:01.81) took silver and bronze, respectively, for a meet-first Calgary podium sweep.
In the next event, UBC’s Bridget Burton completed a sweep of the backstroke events, finishing the 100m race in 58.64. Natascha Borromeo (59.94) and Piper Mitchell (1:00.14) rounded out the podium.
Knox set a new Canada West record in the men’s 100m backstroke in 50.98, his third of the championships. The following four swimmers to touch the wall were Thunderbirds, in addition to another three in the A-finals. Tierney was on the podium again, finishing in 52.16, while Kai Lilienthal claimed the bronze medal with a 53.40 finish.
After a break for medal ceremonies, Calgary’s Alexanne Lepage took gold in the women’s 200m breaststroke in 2:22.31 to sweep the breaststroke events. Emma Spence was in next at 2:27.78, while Dinos swimmer Danika Ethier took the bronze in 2:29.09.
It was a UBC one two three four finish in the men’s 200m breaststroke spearheaded by Ethan Hemeon, who clocked in at 2:10.20. Next on the podium was Glen Omielan in a time of 2:10.97 and earning bronze in 2:11.47 was Justice Migneault.
Emma O’Croinin broke the Canada West record in the women’s 400m freestyle with a thrilling swim to snatch gold with a time of 4:06.25. Dumont-Belanger (4:15.24) and Brynne LeRoy (4:18.25) followed close to three lengths behind.
The final individual event of the competition saw Thunderbirds long-distance specialist Olivier Risk and Victoria’s Elijah Agostinelli Stull go head-to-head for the men’s 400 freestyle bragging rights. With the whole crowd on their feet, Risk pulled ahead and claimed gold in 3:48.46. Alberta’s Paul McKenzie caught up to the leading group to upset Agostinelli Stull for the silver medal in 3:50.32, while the Vikes swimmer got third with a time of 3:51.21.
The night ended with the women’s and men’s 400m medley relay finals. The UBC women found an early lead with backstroke powerhouse Burton in the pool, while the Dinos caught up and pulled ahead when Lepage took her turn. The teams stayed neck-and-neck through the backstroke leg, but the Thunderbirds ran away with the gold after Sanchez hit the pool. Setting a new meet record, the ‘Birds clocked in at 3:58.56 after pulling just over four seconds ahead of the silver medalists in the anchoring leg.
Mirroring the women’s results, the T-Bird men finished first with a time of 3:30.91 and broke the Canada West record for an electric finish to three days of top-tier swimming at the UBC Aquatic Centre.
“Swimming at home really elevated our performances,” noted Schoof. “And to see such a great turnout in the stands and the support that we got from our alumni, family members, and the student body meant a lot.”
Before heading to the U SPORTS Swimming Championships in Toronto this March, the ‘Birds will compete at the VPSC Winter Invitational and UBC Winter Warm-Up at the UBC Aquatic Centre, as well as the West Coast Collegiate in Victoria.
“We’re never going to sit on our laurels,” concluded the UBC head coach, looking ahead to nationals. “We’re going to get right back to work on Tuesday and keep pushing hard for the next 15 weeks.”
Full results for the event are available on the event homepage.
TEAM SCORES
Women
UBC – 1,428
Calgary – 1,110.5
Victoria – 625.5
Alberta – 513
Lethbridge – 356
Manitoba - 304
Regina - 147
Men
UBC – 1,366
Calgary – 1,143
Alberta – 610.5
Victoria – 588
Lethbridge – 338.5
Manitoba - 215
Regina - 203
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Female Rookie of the Year Award – Natascha Borromeo, UBC
Male Rookie of the Year Award – Tanner Cole, UBC
Female Student-Athlete Community Service Award - Makena Wood, Lethbridge
Men's Student-Athlete Community Service Award - Minh Nguyen, Alberta
Female Swimmer of the Year Award – Kayla Noelle Sanchez, UBC
Male Swimmer of the Year Award – Finlay Knox, UBC
Coach of the Year Award (Men’s and Women’s) – Derrick Schoof, UBC
Female Canada West 1st Team All-Stars
Kayla Noelle Sanchez
Emma O'Croinin
Bridget Burton
Alexanne Lepage
Sela Wist
Anna Dumont-Belanger
Jade Lo
Brooklyn Weins
Lora Willar
Emma Spence
Female Canada West 2nd Team All-Stars
Ella Howe
Natascha Borromeo
Hannah Johnsen
Alicia L'Archeveque
Hayley French
Eliza Housman
Male Canada West 1st Team All-Stars
Joel Blanco
Paul McKenzie
Oliver Risk
Blake Tierney
Garrett Brendzan
Finlay Knox
Tanner Cole
Jake Gaunt
Justice Migneault
Jack Hayhoe
Stephen Calkins
Charlie Skalenda
Ethan Hemeon
Siu Lun (Frank) Ho
Male Canada West 2nd Team All-Stars
Ian Cameron
Gibson Black
Kai Lienthal
Hugh McNeill
Stephen Moore
Nicholas Duncan
Liam Dennett
Thomas McDonald
Ethan Fast
Glen Omielan
Paul McKenzie