Banner Season: Toronto Varsity Blues sweep OUA swimming banners
Toronto, Ont. (C/O Toronto Varsity Blues) - The University of Toronto claimed both the men's and women's 2026 OUA Swimming Championship banners on Saturday (Feb. 21) night inside the Athletic Centre – Varsity Pool in downtown Toronto.
The U of T men won the overall title with a three-day score of 975 points. The victory marks the 22nd consecutive provincial championship and 72nd banner in program history. The Western Mustangs earned the team silver medal with 627 total points, while the McMaster Marauders rounded out the podium with 488 points.
For the Toronto women, their three-day total of 997 points allowed them to claim a 12th straight OUA banner and 36th provincial title in program history. The Western Mustangs placed second overall with 871.5 points, while the Brock Badgers women earned their first provincial podium appearance since 1988, claiming team bronze with 389 points.
"This is the best finish for our women's program in team history," said Brock Badgers head coach and OUA Women's Coach of the Year Dave Ling. "It's extremely satisfying. We had a tough DQ on the first day so we had to fight and claw our way back into it and it worked out well in the end."
Winning four individual medals, including a record-setting gold medal swim in the 100m butterfly, York's Eric Ginzburg was named the OUA Men's Swimmer of the Year.
"It means a lot," said Ginzburg after receiving the major award. "The effort that I put in day-in and day-out is being recognized and I'm happy to be able to be part of a team that's elevating. York has been on the consistent come up, especially our men's team. It's good for the guys, for the morale. It's good for the entire team."
Earning three individual gold medals, two OUA grand slams, and the IM Award of Excellence, Toronto's Nina Mollin was named the OUA Women's Swimmer of the Year for a second consecutive season.
In his OUA Championships debut, Western's Riley Carswell was awarded OUA Men's Rookie of the Year after claiming 200m and 1500m freestyle silver, 400m freestyle bronze, and playing a role in the Mustangs OUA record-setting 4x200m freestyle relay performance.
U of T's Chloe Danks received the OUA Women's Rookie of the Year honours after capturing an individual gold medal in the 200m breaststroke. Danks also added silver in the 100m breaststroke and contributed in the Blues OUA record 4x100m medley relay.
"I'm really proud of the way my teammates and I swam this weekend," said Danks. "The transition into my first year has been great, especially the team and coaching staff. It was amazing to see all of our hard work in practice pay off and have everyone on deck cheering us on during every race."
Additional milestones achieved on the final day of competition included: grand slams for Western's Shona Branton in the women's 50m breaststroke and Toronto's Ben Loewen in the men's 200m backstroke; the combination of Andrew Herman, Nathan Thomas, Aiden Harris, and Liam Weaver from U of T broke the men's 4x50m medley relay record with a time of 1:37.90 improving on the previous mark of 1:38.13; and a new OUA record in the women's 4x50m medley relay with Western's crew of Leah Butler, Branton, Sydney Hardeman, and Zea Wetzlaugk touching the wall in 1:49.67, bettering the previous mark of 1:50.38.
Following the OUA Championships, qualified swimmers from across the country will now converge on the Markham Pan Am Centre for the U SPORTS National Swimming Championships scheduled for Mar. 12-14.
MAJOR AWARDS
OUA Swimmer of the Year
Women – Nina Mollin (Toronto)
Men – Eric Ginzburg (York)
OUA Coach of the Year
Women – Dave Ling (Brock)
Men – Cathy Pardy (Laurier)
Rookie of the Year
Women – Chloe Danks (Toronto)
Men – Riley Carswell (Western)
Dr. Jeno Tehani Individual Medley Awards
Women – Nina Mollin (Toronto)
Men – Benjamin Loewen (Toronto)
Student-Athlete Community Service Award Winners
Women –Sophia Kocher (Waterloo)
Men – Josh Joubert (Brock) & Michael Sava (Toronto)
Grand Slam Champion
*Awarded to individuals who have medaled in a single event at four OUA Championships*
Nina Mollin – Toronto – 200 IM, 200 Butterfly
Shona Branton – Western – 50 Breaststroke
Benjamin Loewen – Toronto – 200 Backstroke
Awards of Distinction
*Awarded to individuals who have medaled at three or more OUA Championships*
Tatum O'Connor – Brock
Nina Mollin – Toronto
Gemma Norman – Toronto
Carter Buck – Toronto
Quinn Matteis – Toronto
Liam Weaver – Toronto
Megan Frost – Waterloo
Alex Boden – Waterloo
Aidan Iapicco – Waterloo
Hayden Bartoch – Western
Shona Branton – Western
Hannah Estabrooks – Western
Eric Ginzburg – York
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
Men
1. Toronto, 975
2. Western, 627
3. McMaster, 488
4. Waterloo, 406
5. Laurier, 376
6. Brock, 296
7. York, 260
8. Guelph, 147
9. Carleton, 123
10. Queen's, 80
Women
1. Toronto, 997
2. Western, 871.5
3. Brock, 389
4. McMaster, 378.5
5. Guelph, 332
6. Waterloo, 298
7. Laurier, 164
8. Carleton, 141
9. Queen's, 132
10. York, 87
DAY 3 RESULTS
W 4x50M Medley Relay
1. Western: 1:49.67 (Leah Butler, Shona Branton, Sydney Hardeman, Zea Wetzlaugk) - OUA Record
2. Brock: 1:53.29 (Gwen Creskey, Adriana Martone, Tatum O'Connor, Grace Chai)
3. Guelph: 1:55.40 (Ashley Hodge, Hannah Nordquist, Ali Bertrim, Isabelle Robert)
M 4x50 Medley Relay
1. Toronto: 1:37.90 (Andrew Herman, Nathan Thomas, Aiden Harris, Liam Weaver) - OUA Record
2. McMaster: 1:39.71 (Daniel Chernin, Hayden Yeung, Brady Macpherson Lewison, Josiah Terejko)
3. Waterloo: 1:40.62 (Louie Yin, Liam Wallich, Gavin Lusby, Quitze Bracho)
W 200M Fly
1. Nina Mollin, Toronto: 2:13.83 - Grand Slam
2. Katie Stanojlovic, Toronto: 2:15.21
3. Robin Vadeika, Western: 2:18.77
M 200M Fly
1. Benjamin Loewen, Toronto: 1:56.38
2. Bill Dongfang, Toronto: 1.57.72
3. Alexander Boden, Waterloo: 1:59.33
W 100M Free
1. Teegan Vander Leek, Toronto: 54.92
2. Zea Wetzlaugk, Western: 55.23
3. Grace Chai, Brock: 56.20
M 100M Free
1. Eric Ginzburg, York: 48.63
2. Connor Barnardo, Western: 49.85
3. Raymond Duong, Toronto: 49.94
W 50M Para Free
1. Alma, Carleton: 49.40
2. Hannah Burns, Western: 1:08.69
W 100M Para Free
1. Katie Cosgriffe, Laurier: 1:01.06
M 50M Para Free
1. Elliot, Laurier: 25.88
M 100M Para Free
1. Elliot, Laurier: 57.56
2. Giammichele, McMaster: 1:09.33
3. Scott, Carleton: 1:09.07
W 50M Breaststroke
1. Shona Branton, Western: 31.01 - Grand Slam
2. Ella Collins, Western: 32.19
3. Chloe Popp, Toronto: 32.23
M 50M Breaststroke
1. Noah Chang, Brock: 27.70
2. Isaac Allen, Western: 27.77
3. Hayden Yeung, McMaster: 28.07
W 200M Back
1. Maria Cosic, Toronto: 2:12.41
2. Abbi Bahler, Toronto: 2:13.36
3. Hannah Estabrooks, Western: 2:15.34
M 200M Back
1. Benjamin Loewen, Toronto: 1:55.25 - Grand Slam
2. Andrew Herman, Toronto: 1:56.58
3. Ben Winterborn, Toronto: 1:57.77
W 800M Free
1. Katie Marovino, Toronto: 8:51.83
2. Megan Frost, Waterloo: 8:57.26
3. Milena Cosic, Toronto: 9:04.11
M 1500M Free
1. Quinn Matteis, Toronto: 15:26.45
2. Riley Carswell, Western: 15:44.90
3. Mateusz Powalowski, Toronto: 15:47.91
W 4x100M Free Relay
1. Toronto: 3:45.08 (Milena Cosic, Gemma Norman, Natalie Hocevar, Julie Nolan-McCarthy)
2. Western: 3:46.84 (Zea Wetzlaugk, Gabriella Casasanta, Danielle Treasure, Robin Vadeika)
3. Brock: 3:51.93 (Cassidy Karrel, Quinn Mersereau, Danielle Moss, Mia Frederiksen)
M 4x100M Free Relay
1. Toronto: 3:19.66 (Liam Weaver, Raymond Duong, Bill Dongfang, Ben Winterborn)
2. Western: 3:21.41 (Connor Barnardo, Isaac Allen, Rowen Uy, Kieran Stone)
3. Laurier: 3:22.83 (George Radic, Greg Hayward, Griffin Oldman, William Bryer)
DAY 2 RESULTS
W 50M Freestyle
1. Zea Wetzlaugk, Western: 25.05
2. Teagan Vander Leek, Toronto: 25.19
3. Gemma Norman, Toronto: 25.49
M 50M Freestyle
1. Liam Weaver, Toronto: 22.52
2. Eric Ginzburg, York: 22.66
3. Connor Barnardo, Western: 22.77
W 200M Breaststroke
1. Chloe Danks, Toronto: 2:26.93
2. Shona Branton, Western: 2:28.15
3. Julie Nolan-McCarthy, Toronto: 2:28.76
M 200M Breaststroke
1. Nathan Thomas, Toronto: 2:12.39
2. John Ryan, Laurier: 2:14.56
3. Logan Milne, Toronto: 2:14.70
W 400M Freestyle
1. Katie Marovino, Toronto: 4:15.97
2. Liz Greaves, Guelph: 4:18.29
3. Milena Cosic, Toronto: 4:20.09
M 400M Freestyle
1. Quinn Matteis, Toronto: 3:49.88
2. Kieran Stone, Western: 3:51.43
3. Riley Carswell, Western: 3:51.87
W 100M Backstroke
1. Tatum O'Connor, Brock: 59.92
2. Maria Cosic, Toronto: 1:00.65
3. Fiona Brophy, McMaster: 1:01.75
M 100M Backstroke
1. Andrew Hermann, Toronto: 52.11 - OUA Record
2. Ben Winterborn, Toronto: 52.81
3. Carter Buck, Toronto: 54.47
W 100M Para Backstroke
1. Katie Cosgriffe, Laurier: 1:04.25
2. Isabella Alma, Carleton: 2:03.95
3. Hannah Burns, Western: 2:22.56
W 50M Para Backstroke
1. Hannah Burns, Western: 1:08.53
M 100M Para Backstroke
1. Charles Giammichele, McMaster: 1:25.07
2. Nicolas Scott, Carleton: 1:18.83
3. Ian Steadman, Guelph: 2:28.96
W 200M IM
1. Nina Mollin, Toronto: 2:14.75 - Grand Slam
2. Abbi Bahler, Toronto: 2:15.18
3. Julie Nolan-McCarthy, Toronto: 2:17.77
M 200M IM
1. Benjamin Loewen, Toronto: 1:58.89
2. Elijah Daley, Toronto: 1:59.80
3. Isaac Allen, Western: 2:01.53
W 50M Fly
1. Sydney Hardeman, Western: 26.72 - OUA Record
2. Maria Cosic, Toronto: 27.20
3. Michelle Wang, McMaster: 27.25
M 50M Fly
1. Eric Ginzburg, York: 23.63
2. Aiden Harris, Toronto: 24.30
3. Liam Weaver, Toronto: 24.41
W 4x200 Freestyle Relay
1. Toronto: 8:09.75 (Abbi Bahler, Natalie Hocevar, Milena Cosic, Katie Marovino)
2. Western: 8:15.02 (Danielle Treasure, Nea Martin, Isabella Howes, Robin Vadeika)
3. Guelph: 8:30.64 (Lauren Anthony, Holly Nickerson, Alyssa Guterson, Liz Greaves)
M 4x200 Freestyle Relay
1. Western: 7:17.56 (Connor Barnardo, Riley Carswell, Isaac Allen, Kieran Stone) - OUA Record
2. Toronto: 7:18.25 (Paul Yang, Quinn Matteis, Mateusz Powalowski, Ben Winterborn)
3. Laurier: 7:29.64 (Owen Jibb, George Radic, Jacob Wahba, William Bryer)
DAY 1 RESULTS
W 4x50M Free
1. Western: 1:41.92 (Sydney, Hardeman, Gabriella Casasanta, Leah Butler, Zea Wetzlaugk)
2. Toronto: 1:42.12 (Maria Cosic, Gemma Norman, Angel Yao, Teagan Vander Leek)
3. Brock: 1:42.20 (Cassidy Karrel, Tatum O'Connor, Quinn Mersereau, Grace Chai)
M 4x50M Free
1. Toronto: 1:30.45 (Aiden Harris, Andrew Herman, Carter Buck, Liam Weaver)
2. Western: 1:31.45 (Kyle Stuckless, Hanwen Luo, Jackson Waddell, Luca Cappelletto)
3. McMaster: 1:32.27 (Josiah Terejko, Jacob Pawlak, Nik So, Lucas Chen)
W 200M Free
1. Natalie Hocevar, Toronto: 2:00.32
2. Katie Marovino, Toronto: 2:00.91
3. Abbi Bahler, Toronto: 2:01.11
M 200M Free
1. Kieran Stone, Western: 1:47.37
2. Riley Carswell, Western: 1:48. 68
3. Quinn Matteis, Toronto: 1:49.07
W 100M Breaststroke
1. Shona Branton, Western: 1:06.19
2. Chloe Danks, Toronto: 1:08.40
3. Julie Nolan-McCarthy, Toronto: 1:09.11
M 100M Breaststroke
1. Camren Courchene-Carter, Brock: 1:00.33
2. Hayden Yeung, McMaster: 1:01.03
3. Isaac Allen, Western: 1:01.04
W Para 100M Breaststroke
1. Isabella Alma, Carleton: 2:09.69
M Para 100M Breaststroke
1. Charles Giammichele, McMaster: 1:24.43
2. Nicolas Scott, Carleton: 1:33.99
3. Ian Steadman, Guelph: 2:49.86
W 100M Fly
1. Nina Mollin, Toronto: 1:00.46
2. Angel Yao, Toronto: 1:00.60
3. Ali Bertrim, Guelph: 1:01.02
M 100M Fly
1. Eric Ginzburg, York: 52.22 - OUA Record
2. Benjamin Loewen, Toronto: 52.68
3. Alexander Boden, Waterloo: 53.62
M Para 100M Fly
1. Alec Elliot, Waterloo: 1:00.10
2. Nicolas Scott, Guelph: 1:10.08
M Para 50M Fly
1. Ian Steadman, Guelph: 1:10.08
W 50M Back
1. Tatum O'Connor, Brock: 27.66
2. Sydney Hardeman, Western: 28.24
3. Maria Cosic, Toronto: 28.25
M 50M Back
1. Andrew Hermann, Toronto: 24.29 - OUA Record
2. Ben Winterborn, Toronto: 24.92
3. Daniel Chernin, McMaster: 25.26
W 400M IM
1. Abbi Bahler, Toronto: 4:46.53
2. Robin Vadeika, Western: 4:49.50
3. Jessica Thebarge, Carleton: 4.58.30
M 400M IM
1. George Radic, Laurier: 4:21.47
2. Rowen Uy, Western: 4:22.70
3. Owen Jibb, Laurier: 4:23.17
W 4x100M Medley
1. Toronto: 4:05.27 (Maria Cosic, Chloe Danks. Nina Mollin, Teagan Vander Leek) - OUA Record
2. Western: 4:06.74 (Hannah Estabrooks, Shona Branton, Brooke Johannson, Zea Wetzlaugk)
3. Guelph: 4:13.47 (Alanna Casasanta, Hannah Nordquist, Ali Bertrim, Liz Greaves)
M 4x100M Medley
1. Toronto: 3:38.64 (Carter Buck, Nathan Thomas, Benjamin Loewen, Raymond Duong)
2. Waterloo: 3:42.85 (Louie Yin, Liam Wallich, Alexander Boden, Kevin Zhang)
3. McMaster: 3.43.29 (Emilio Gonzalez Maciel, Hayden Yeung, Brady Macpherson Lewison, Preston McMann)