VICTORIA – The University of Victoria swim team opens the 2025-26 season Nov. 8-9 at the University Cup, taking place at the UBC Aquatic Centre. The event serves as a primer for the Canada West Swimming Championship and the first opportunity for the Vikes to test themselves against competition this season.

Head coach Ryan Clouston enters his second year as the head coach of the swimming program in 2025-26, following 14 seasons as the assistant coach alongside longtime program lead Peter Vizsolyi.

The Vikes are coming off a solid season with both women's and men's teams finishing in seventh place at the 2025 U SPORTS Swimming Championships, hosted by the University of Toronto. The men's 4 x 200 free relay team of Ricky Millns, Elijah Agostinelli Stull, Matthew MacDonald, and Keir Ogilvie combined to secure the U SPORTS bronze medal for the Vikes. The relay result marked a first for the team since the 2000 U SPORTS championships, where they also won bronze.

From the coach's desk:

 "We've done what we could to build fitness, strength, power and speed so far, and the team has been very positive, resilient and consistent, but won't know how it will compare to a typical season's progression until we get back to normal training and competition," said Clouston. "The good news is that we still have a good amount of time until the U SPORTS Swimming Championships to get the necessary preparation in."  

Key returners

Keir Ogilvie
A local standout and cornerstone of the Vikes men's swim program, Ogilvie returns for his fourth season looking to build on a breakout 2024–25 campaign after transferring from the University of British Columbia. As a hometown student of Victoria, B.C. Ogilvie captured bronze medals at both the Canada West and U SPORTS Championships as part of the Vikes 4x200-m freestyle relay, while also earning a Canada West bronze in the 200-m butterfly.

Ogilvie led UVic with two A-Final appearances at the U SPORTS championship, finishing eighth in the 200-m freestyle and eighth in the 50-m butterfly. He also won the 100-m butterfly B Final. His strong form carried into the offseason with appearances at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Fort Lauderdale, FL., and the Bell Canadian Swim Trials, where he broke a UVic program record in the 100-m butterfly with a time of 54.11. With national podium experience and a growing reputation as one of Canada's top university flyers, Ogilvie is poised to be a driving force for the Vikes this season.

Ricky Millns
Entering his fifth season with the Vikes, Millns closes in on five years of contributions in the pool. Last year, he helped UVic secure bronze in the 4x200-m freestyle relay at both the Canada West and U SPORTS Championships. Millns had a standout year individually as well, winning the 200-m individual medley at the West Coast Collegiate meet and claimed the 50-m freestyle B Final at the Canada West championships. He also competed in the 100-m butterfly, 100-m freestyle, and 50-m butterfly, taking the B Final in the 50-m fly. At U SPORTS, he swam the 50-m breaststroke, 50-m butterfly, and both the 50- and 100-m freestyle events, demonstrating versatility across sprint and mid-distance races.

Ryan Murphy
A fourth-year athlete from Calgary, Alta., Murphy has emerged as one of the Vikes most consistent performers, recording 15 top-10 finishes in 2024–25. At the Canada West Championships, he competed in the 50-, 100-, and 200-m backstroke events, before swimming the same distances, along with the 1500-m freestyle, at the U SPORTS Championships.

Erin Epp
After navigating one of her most challenging seasons in 2024–25, fourth-year swimmer Epp reaffirmed her role as the competitive anchor of the Vikes women's side. The Kelowna, BC native delivered 27 top-10 finishes, highlighted by multiple event wins and a standout performance at the U SPORTS Championships, where she placed fourth in the 200m breaststroke and competed across three additional events.

Her success earned her a spot as the sole UVic representative on the U SPORTS All-Star swim team, which traveled to the United Kingdom for an international meet against England's top university athletes—a fitting capstone to a season defined by resilience.

Olivia Roschat
A steady presence in the pool, fifth-year swimmer Roschat has built her career on consistency over time. From Delta, BC, Roschat finished last season with 15 top-10 finishes and a spot in the A Final of the 50m backstroke at the U SPORTS Championships, where she also competed in the 50m freestyle and 100m backstroke.

Ayiana Gagne
Three years ago, Gagne arrived in Victoria from Fort Frances, Ont., with hopes of one day earning a spot on the varsity swim team. Starting as a walk-on in the development program, she's now in her second year of eligibility and made her first appearance at the U SPORTS National Swimming Championships last season. Gagne posted 15 top-10 finishes in 2024-25 and competed in the 200 free, 400 free, 400 IM, and 800 free at both the Canada West championships and U SPORTS championships. Gagne is easily one of the most improved swimmers on the team and has become a reliable contender in middle-distance events.

Newcomers to watch

According to Clouston, the Vikes will showcase a handful of newcomers that boast impressive best-times. Third year transfer from SFU Jordan Raume is coming off two seasons with the NCAA Division II Red Leafs. Originally from Comox, BC, Raumer is a talented and athletic swimmer that specializes in the free and breast. Others to watch include Oliver Thompson from Oakville, Ont, Peyton Pearse of Nanaimo, BC, and Finnigan Clawson-Honeyman of Chelsea, Que.  On the women's side, first-year athlete Kendra Murray of Pickering, Ont. could put up competitive times as a rookie, as well as Sidney, B.C.'s Sidney Boone.

REGATTA INFORMATION
UBC University Cup Pacific 
Saturday, Nov. 8 - Sunday, Nov. 9
UBC Aquatics Centre, Vancouver