SWIM: UBC sweeps team titles at 2025 CW Swimming Championships
Recap by University of Lethbridge Pronghorns Sports Information
LETHBRIDGE, Alta. - The UBC Thunderbirds won the 2025 Canada West Swimming Championships, sweeping the team banners for the second year in a row and claiming every individual award across three days of competition at the Max Bell Regional Aquatic Centre.
Led by standout performances from Kayla Noelle Sanchez, who was named the conference’s female Swimmer of the Year, and first-year star Aiden Kirk, who earned both men’s Swimmer of the Year and Rookie of the Year honours, the Thunderbirds once again showed their depth across both rosters.
“I’m so proud of these athletes. They’ve worked incredibly hard from the very start of the season,” said Thunderbirds head coach Derrick Schoof, who was named both men’s and women’s Coach of the Year following the event.
“We’ve got great energy, great athletes, and a group that is truly committed to excellence. I’m proud of how hard they’ve been working. They deserve this success.”
The host Lethbridge Pronghorns also gave their home fans plenty to cheer about while finishing fourth on both the men’s and the women’s side, capturing three bronze medals and setting two new Pronghorn records.
On the women’s side, the Thunderbird women won their fourth straight conference crown – and 15th title in 16 years – with a dominant 1032 points. Calgary finished second with 801.5, and Victoria was third with 512.5. Lethbridge was next in the women’s standings with 321 points, while Manitoba totalled 193 and Regina finished with 145.5.
Schoof highlighted the balanced effort behind the Thunderbird women’s victory.
“Lots of great results across the board. Of course, Kayla Sanchez was outstanding, truly world-class swimming, but this is a real team event. For us, it’s about making sure all 18 women step up, and they all did.”
UBC’s banner in the men’s competition is their second in a row, topping the standings with 1062.5 points. The T-Birds held off Calgary, who finished the meet in second with 892 points, while Victoria was third with 492.5. Lethbridge (271), Manitoba (166) and Regina (133) rounded out the men’s results.
Schoof praised his men’s effort as well, noting their resilience against strong competition from Calgary and the rest of the field.
“Calgary always has a strong squad, and we never take them for granted. They came out swinging, and we had to be at our best. I knew going in that we could do it, and the team delivered.”
Sunday Event Results
200m Butterfly
The Calgary Dinos started Sunday's finals with a roar, sweeping the podium in the women's 200m butterfly. Kaitlyn Luu finished first in 2:17.61, while teammates Hayley French (2:19.18) and Jasmine Nicols (2:19.53) were neck and neck in finishing second and third.
In the men’s 200m butterfly, Thunderbird Aiden Kirk took the top spot, touching the wall in a time of 1:59.57. His T-Bird teammate Raben Dommann took second with 2:00.58, while Calgary’s Nicholas Duncan earned the bronze in 2:01.64.
100m Freestyle
Olympian Emma O'Croinin won the women’s 100m freestyle with a time of 54.76. Calgary’s Eliza Housman (55.38) and UBC’s Brooklyn Wiens (56.06) were the next two to touch the wall.
Another UBC Olympian took the podium in the men’s 100m freestyle when Yuri Kisil touched the wall with a 48.26 finish. The T-Birds swept the podium as Jake Gaunt finished close behind in a time of 49.43, followed by Siu Lun Ho (49.47).
200m Individual Medley
Calgary's Sarah Haugan won the women's 200m medley, with the Dino winning in 2:16.41. UBC’s Camryn Stannard (2:16.95) and Jade Lo (2:16.97) were extremely close behind.
The men’s 200m IM saw a tight race for the top spot. It was UBC's Jaques Harrison who got to the wall first in 1:59.77, pulling ahead of Calgary’s Ian Cameron in the last 25m. Cameron's silver medal time of 2:00.25 was just ahead of Dino teammate Nicholas Duncan (2:01.14).
100m Backstroke
UBC’s Bridget Burton completed a sweep of the backstroke events, finishing the 100m race in 58.38. Teammates Eloise Allen (58.93) and Piper Mitchell (1:00.46) rounded out the podium.
Raben Dommann won the 100m backstroke for the Thunderbirds in 52.25. Calgary’s Thomas Macdonald was second on the podium, finishing in 54.06, while his Dino teammate Ethan Fast claimed the bronze with a 54.75 finish.
200m Breaststroke
After a break for medal ceremonies, Calgary’s Alexanne Lepage earned her fourth gold medal of the weekend, sweeping the breaststroke events after a 2:25.16 in the 200m. UBC’s Amaris Peng was in next at 2:32.05, and Emma Spence took the bronze in 2:32.19.
It was a UBC sweep once again in the men’s event, spearheaded by Justice Migneault clocking in at 2:09.08. Next on the podium was Glen Omielan (2:10.62), while Sebastian Van de Logt (2:11.08) grabbed the bronze.
400m Freestyle
Emma O’Croinin continued her phenomenal meet by breaking the Canada West record in the women’s 400m freestyle, delivering a thrilling swim to snatch gold with a time of 4:12.65. Ruby Kehler (4:18.06) and Emma Spence (4:18.17) followed behind to secure a UBC podium sweep.
Kehler would also go on to be named the Female Rookie of the Year following the meet.
The final individual event of the competition saw UBC’s Aiden Kirk and Paul Hebrard go head-to-head for the men’s 400 freestyle, with Kirk finishing first in 3:49.14 and Hebrard second with 3:52.81. Calgary’s Aiden Gyorfi finished third in 3:55.03
400m Medley Relay
The meet ended with a pair of thrilling 400m medley relay finals, as UBC secured a weekend sweep of the relay events.
The UBC women found an early lead with backstroke powerhouse Bridget Burton, while the Dinos caught up and pulled ahead when Alexanne Lepage took her turn. The Thunderbirds would take back the lead in the third leg and hold on for the victory in 4:00.36, with the Dinos claiming silver in 4:05.67. The host Pronghorns claimed bronze just ahead of Victoria, finishing with a time of 4:11.88.
Mirroring the women’s results, the UBC men finished first in the medley relay with a time of 3:32.83, with the Dinos second (3:35.37) and Victoria third (3:40.51).
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
Women
UBC – 1,032.50
Calgary – 801.50
Victoria – 512.50
Lethbridge – 321
Manitoba - 193
Regina -145.50
Men
UBC – 1,062.50
Calgary – 892
Victoria –492.50
Lethbridge – 271
Manitoba - 166
Regina - 133
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Female Rookie of the Year Award – Ruby Kehler, UBC
Male Rookie of the Year Award – Aiden Kirk, UBC
Female Student-Athlete Community Service Award – Meadow Liversuch, Lethbridge
Men's Student-Athlete Community Service Award – Stephen Moore, Calgary
Female Swimmer of the Year Award – Kayla Noelle Sanchez, UBC
Male Swimmer of the Year Award – Aiden Kirk, UBC
Coach of the Year Award (Men’s and Women’s) – Derrick Schoof, UBC
Women's Swimming All-Star Teams
Female Canada West 1st Team All-Stars
UBC - Kayla Noelle Sanchez
UBC - Emma O'Croinin
UBC - Bridget Burton
CGY - Alexanne Lepage
UBC - Sela Wist
UBC - Jade Lo
UBC - Brooklyn Weins
UBC - Emma Spence
CGY - Kaitlyn Luu
CGY - Eliza Housman
CGY - Sarah Haugen
UBC - Eloise Allen
Female Canada West 2nd Team All-Stars
CGY - Hayley French
UBC - Camryn Stannard
UBC - Amaris Peng
UBC - Ruby Kehler
UBC - Piper Mitchell
UBC - Benya Mattig
Men's Swimming All-Star Teams
Male Canada West 1st Team All-Stars
UBC - Aiden Kirk
UBC - Jake Gaunt
UBC - Justice Migneault
UBC - Ethan Hemeon
UBC - Siu Lun (Frank) Ho
UBC - Kai Lilienthal
UBC - Yuri Kisil
UBC - Jacques Harrison
CGY - Nicholas Duncan
UBC - Paul Hebrard
UBC - Raben Dommann
Male Canada West 2nd Team All-Stars
CGY - Ian Cameron
CGY - Thomas McDonald
CGY - Ethan Fast
UBC - Glen Omielan
UBC - Jake Gaunt
UBC - Olivier Risk