VICTORIA – The University of Victoria swimming teams will take to the pool on Oct. 24 for the UVic Senior Circuit, hosted at Saanich Commonwealth Place. Competition begins at 12:30 p.m. and runs through the afternoon as the Vikes begin a season highlighted by hosting the Canada West Swimming Championships next month.

Head coach Ryan Clouston enters his third season leading the program after spending 14 years as an assistant coach alongside Peter Vizsolyi, who led the program for 41 years.

The Vikes are coming off a strong 2025-26 season, with both the men's and women's teams finishing seventh at the U SPORTS Swimming Championships. The national meet was highlighted by a bronze-medal performance from Keir Ogilvie in the men's 50-metre butterfly, while the program set multiple school records.

While the Vikes graduated nine U SPORTS competitors, including standouts Ricky Millns and Erin Epp, the team returns a talented core of experienced swimmers alongside a promising recruiting class.

Adding to the excitement, UVic will host the 2026 Canada West Swimming Championships Nov. 27-29 at Saanich Commonwealth Place, giving the Vikes a chance to compete for conference medals in front of a home crowd for the first time in nine years. 

From the Coach

"Our main goal for this season is working towards consistency in our preparation, consistent progression and moving up the U SPORTS national rankings from where we finished last season," said Clouston. "Hosting Canada West lets the team keep their routines right up until competition starts. It also brings family, friends, and alumni out to watch. The team spends so much time at Commonwealth, and it's always an advantage to race in a pool you know so well."

Key Returners

Keir Ogilvie | Fifth Year
A national medalist and one of the leaders of the Vikes men's team, Ogilvie returns for his final season after capturing a U SPORTS bronze medal in the 50-metre butterfly in 2026. The Victoria product also set multiple program records throughout the season and was a key contributor to the Vikes' record-setting relay teams at both the Canada West and national championships. Once again, Ogilvie will lead the way and be the one to watch this season.

Matthew MacDonald | Fifth Year
MacDonald has been a cornerstone of the Vikes freestyle group throughout his career. A member of the program-record 4x100- and 4x200-metre freestyle relays, he also helped the Vikes earn three relay bronze medals at the Canada West Championships and represented UVic at the U SPORTS Championships.

Peyton Pearse | Second Year
A UVic Men's Rookie of the Year nominee last spring, Pearse remains an important part of the Vikes' success. The Nanaimo native was a member of both record-setting freestyle relay squads and posted a U SPORTS qualifying standard in the 200-metre butterfly at the Canada West Championships, where he also helped the Vikes capture bronze medals in the 4x100- and 4x200-metre freestyle relays. Now entering his third season, Pearse has established himself as both a top point scorer and a key piece of the men's freestyle relay group.

Lydia James-Brennan | Fourth Year
One of the leaders of the women's distance group, James-Brennan returns after competing in five events at the U SPORTS Championships. She also swam in the women's 4x200-metre freestyle relay and helped the Vikes win a Canada West bronze medal in the 800-metre freestyle relay.

Ayiana Gagne | Fifth Year
A distance specialist, Gagne's journey embodies the Vikes development pathway. After joining the program as a walk-on, she has become a key contributor at the U SPORTS level, lowering her 800-metre freestyle time by over 42 seconds since arriving in Victoria. Now entering her final season, Gagne brings veteran leadership after competing in five events at the 2026 U SPORTS Championships and helping the Vikes capture Canada West bronze in the 800-metre freestyle relay.

Paige Dooling | Fourth Year
A versatile swimmer across multiple disciplines, Dooling returns for her fourth year after qualifying for the U SPORTS Championships in each of her first three seasons with the Vikes and reaching multiple finals at the Canada West Championships last season. Dooling is a fierce competitor who has continued to improve every year since joining the program. 

Incoming talent

Zac Millns | First Year
The last will be familiar to Vikes fans. Millns joins the program following the graduation of his older brother Ricky, one of the most decorated swimmers in recent team history. A sprinter from Campbell River, Millns is expected to make an immediate impact on the men's squad even as a rookie.

Keyana Owens | First Year
Also from Campbell River, Owens joins the Vikes as an exciting sprint specialist and adds depth to the women's group.

Lila Koropatniski | First Year
A Victoria product, Koropatniski arrives as a strong middle- and distance-freestyle swimmer with significant developmental potential.

Alex Camaraire | First Year
Another local recruit, Camaraire joins the men's team as a sprint and middle-distance freestyle swimmer who also competes in butterfly events.
"We're excited to have such fierce competitors joining the squad, and especially excited to welcome so much talent from right here at home," said Clouston.