SWIM: Dinos, T-Birds crowned 2023 Champions

CALGARY – After 22 events on each side and three days in the pool, the University of Calgary Dinos men and the UBC Thunderbirds women were crowned the 2023 Canada West Swimming Champions Sunday afternoon inside the UCalgary Aquatic Centre.

The Dinos men finished the meet with 970 points. UBC placed second with 733 points and Alberta was third at 529. 

On the women’s side, a strong finish just pushed the T-Birds over the century mark with 1000.5 points. The Calgary women came in second at 857.5, while Alberta just held off a late charge from Victoria for third with 334.5 points to the Vikes 333. 

The championship is the second in a row for the Dinos men and their 22^nd in program history – now the most in conference history. 

Meanwhile, the UBC women claim their 13^th banner in the last 14 years.  

The night started with a bang for the T-Birds women, taking two of the first three medals on the night in the opening 200m butterfly. Greta Gulyas touched the wall first in 2:16.44, while Anna Dumont-Belanger was third in 2:17.66. Calgary’s Kassua Dreyer brought home the silver medal in 2:17.16. 

On the men’s side, it was Alberta with the strong start to the night. Jack Hayhoe topped the podium with a winning time of 2:01.06 in the tight race, with teammate Diego Paz claiming bronze in 2:01.89. Calgary’s Thomas McDonald earned a podium finish in the event for the third straight year with a second-place finish in 2:01.85.

It was Manitoba’s time to shine as the women’s 100m freestyle was up next. One year after just missing a spot on the podium, Kelsey Fillion earned the top spot with a winning time of 55.81. Ella Howe won her latest CW medal by bringing home bronze in 56.71 for the Bisons, while Rose Garcia claimed silver for the T-Birds in 56.43. 

The reigning conference and national men’s champion in the 100 free continued his dominance, as Stephen Calkins repeated as the Canada West Champion, winning this year’s final with a time of 47.87. Siu Lun Ho of UBC finished second in 49.23, while teammate and star rookie Jake Gaunt was third in 49.50.

Calgary’s standout rookie was dominant in bringing home her latest gold medal in the women’s 200m individual medley. The Vernon, B.C. product touched the wall first in 2:12.74, with Camryn Stannard (2:14.52) and Emma Spence (2:15.11) – both of UBC – placing second and third, respectively.

Frederik Kamminga added another gold to the Golden Bears medal haul on the weekend, winning the men’s 200 IM in 2:01.44. Charlie Skalenda (2:02.31) and Ian Cameron (2:03.14) – both of Calgary – rounded out the podium.

Another newcomer stole the show in the women’s 100m backstroke as Bridget Burton claimed her latest medal – another gold – in the star-studded event. Burton was the lone swimmer to finish in under one minute with a winning time of 59.12, just ahead of Calgary’s Hannah Johnsen (1:00.62) and Victoria’s Lauren Crisp (1:01.90).

One day after winning gold in the 200m back, Hugh McNeill won the 100m backstroke Sunday in 53.14. Chris Alexander of Lethbridge brought home the silver in 54.08, while Richie Stokes of Calgary was bronze in 54.70. 

Lepage then claimed her fourth individual gold medal in less than 24 hours with a win in the women’s 200m breaststroke. The World Junior Champion breezed to a win in 2:25.49. UBC’s Emma Spence was second in 2:29.08, while teammate Amaris Peng was third in 2:30.44.

Kamminga claimed his second gold medal of the day and third medal of the meet by winning the men’s 200 breast. The fourth year touched the wall in 2:10.67, ahead of UBC’s Ethan Hemeon (2:11.58) for second and Calgary’s Aiden Luykenaar (2:15.78) for third.

The Thunderbirds closed out the individual portion of this year’s meet in style, sweeping the women’s 400m freestyle. Stannard earned the gold in 4:16.40, while Dumont-Belanger (4:17.19) was silver and Rosalie Davidson (4:17.59) earned bronze.

Calgary’s Nathan Versluys completed his three-peat in the men’s 400 free. The fourth year topped the field for the third straight season in the event, winning his latest gold medal in 3:52.78. Teammate Paul McKenzie repeated as the conference silver medallist in 3:54.85, while UBC rookie Olivier Risk won this year’s bronze in 3:55.22.

It was UBC from start to finish in the women’s 400m medley relay to officially wrap up the women’s championships. Bridget Burton, Eloise Allen, Sela Wist and Rose Garcia were dominant from start to finish, topping the field in 4:04.38. Calgary’s foursome came in second in 4:09.05, while Victoria placed third in 4:13.79. 

The T-Birds also brought home gold in the men’s 400 medley relay. Hugh McNeill, Ethan Hemeon, Siu Lun Ho and Jake Gaunt just held off a furious anchor leg from Calgary’s Stephen Calkins, winning in 3:35.31. The Dinos finished second in 3:36.97, while Alberta came in third in 3:40.74.

CW Swimming Awards

Following the meet, Mackenzie Wallich of Calgary was named the recipient of the Women’s Student Athlete Service Award for her work coaching youth swimming and volunteering to help children/youth with disabilities. Victoria’s Ricky Millns was the men’s recipient of the award for his work coaching and founding a beach cleanup program to encourage local youth to take pride in their community. 

Alexanne Lepage was named the Women’s Rookie of the Year after bringing home gold in all four of her individual events to go with one win and two runner-up finishes in her relays. Olivier Risk of UBC was named the Men’s Rookie of the Year after winning the 1500m freestyle, taking third in the 400m free and also scoring in both the 400m IM and 200m free.

Lepage was also named the Women’s Swimmer of the Year – the third consecutive season a Dino has claimed that award. Stephen Calkins was named the Men’s Swimmer of the Year after winning gold in 50m butterfly, 50m freestyle, 100m free and bronze in the 50m backstroke. The Calgary native also helped the Dinos to two more gold medals and one silver in relay action.

UBC’s Derrick Schoof was named the conference’s Women’s Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his career, while Calgary’s Mike Blondal was named the Canada West Men’s Coach of the Year – the sixth time he has won the award in his career.

View the full Day 3 results here. 

Women’s Student-Athlete Service Award: Mackenzie Wallich, Calgary

Men’s Student-Athlete Service Award: Ricky Millns, Victoria

Women’s Rookie of the Year: Alexanne Lepage, Calgary

Men’s Rookie of the Year: Olivier Risk, UBC

Women’s Swimmer of the Year: Alexanne Lepage, Calgary

Men’s Swimmer of the Year: Stephen Calkins, Calgary

Women’s Coach of the Year: Derrick Schoof, UBC

Men’s Coach of the Year: Mike Blondal, Calgary

Women’s Team Champion: UBC

Men’s Team Champion: Calgary