VICTORIA – As the University of Victoria swimming team prepares to dive into the new season, they aim to build on the momentum of an exciting 2023-24 campaign, where they finished sixth and 10th at the U SPORTS Swimming National Championships and set multiple Vikes records. With Ryan Clouston stepping into his first year as the program's head coach, the team is eager to continue their rise in the national rankings under his leadership.

Women's key returners
Third-year athlete Erin Epp has emerged as one of the Vikes most consistent and reliable swimmers. Epp helped the Vikes earn a Canada West bronze medal in the 400-medley relay and led the women's side at the U SPORTS championships in the 50-breast. A multi-time Canada West All-Star and a gold medalist in the 200 breast, Epp is expected to lead the women's side heading into 2024.

"Erin does a lot of things right that great athletes do. She is extremely consistent daily and takes a serious and professional approach to the sport and her lifestyle that allows her to achieve her goals," said Clouston. 

Corah Wilson begins her second season with the Vikes and is expected to be a strong contender in distance races. She qualified for the 2023 Canadian swimming trials, placing in the top 20 for both the 800-metre and 1500-metre freestyle. Wilson posted the Vikes fastest times in the 400 and 800 freestyle events at last year's U SPORTS championships.

In her fourth year with the Vikes, Isabella Brunoro is a key leader in and out of the pool. Last season, she helped the team earn a bronze medal in the 400-medley relay at the conference championships and is set to be a top performer again this year.

Men's key returners
Elijah Agostinelli Stull, now in his fourth year, has shown steady improvement throughout his career and is emerging as one of the team's most dependable athletes. Last year, he was the top U SPORTS performer for the Vikes, making his first U SPORTS A-final in the 200-metre freestyle, where he finished seventh overall. He also won the B final in the 400-metre freestyle, contributing to the men's team's sixth-place national finish.

Another fourth-year veteran, William Risk, is a swimmer with serious podium potential. In 2023, he delivered 23 top-10 finishes, including two wins and three podium placements. Risk took home a bronze medal in the 1500-metre freestyle at the 2023 U SPORTS Championships, the only Vikes men's swimmer to reach the podium. A skilled distance and open-water swimmer, Risk is aiming for another strong showing at the U SPORTS championships this season.

Setting multiple Vikes records last season, Ricky Millns continues to get faster year over year, etching his name in UVic's record books. Known for his ambitious endeavours like running an Ironman for charity without training and swimming nine kilometres of butterfly stroke at training camp, Millns is always a contender in the sprints—expect to see some new personal bests and Vikes records again this season.
 
Women's off-season additions
Charlotte Bell, a first-year athlete from Prague, Czech Republic, brings a unique and extensive swimming background to the Vikes. Her training at the French National Training Center in Font Romeu, France, has shaped her into a rising star in the backstroke. Bell's arrival is highly anticipated, as she is expected to make an immediate impact, filling the gap left by U SPORTS All-Canadian Lauren Crisp, who graduated in 2024.

Isabella Korczewski is another promising first-year swimmer to keep an eye on. Hailing from Calgary, she developed her skills in two of the city's top swim programs: the Calgary Dinos and Calgary Cascade swim clubs, both known for producing top Canadian talent. A Canadian swimming trials qualifier, Korczewski's strongest events include the backstroke and free.

Men's off-season additions
Keir Ogilvie is in his first season with the Vikes but is no stranger to U SPORTS competition. A Claremont Secondary graduate, Ogilvie spent three seasons with the UBC Thunderbird and training at the High Performance Centre. He also spent time training in Australia last year before returning home to Victoria to join the Vikes. A Victoria native, Ogilvie has a good relationship with the Vikes swim program having consistently trained with Pacific Coast Swimming over the years.

Andrew Chilton is much the opposite of Ogilvie, joining the Vikes at just 17 years old from Sherwood Park in Edmonton. The youngest member of the team, Chilton is a distance swimmer, with a speciality in the 1500. Still very young, Chilton is already talented and will continue to progress over the coming years.

Coaches notes
"Our goal this season is for our swimmers to improve and progress. We've done a lot of work behind the scenes to shift the culture to be more professional and consistent which will hopefully pay dividends in the future," said Clouston.

"Our goal this weekend is to have the athletes race their best events without rest and without peaking. We're also trying to touch on more speed, and just get back into racing shape as the season kicks off."

Race information:
UVic Senior Circuit
Oct. 19 | Saanich Commonwealth Place
2024 schedule