The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's and women's swimming teams were crowned champions as the 2023 OUA championships wrapped up on Saturday night (Feb. 11) in London, Ont.
 
TEAM SCORES: The Blues women earned their ninth-consecutive OUA banner with 1207 points, well ahead of the silver medalist Western Mustangs (777.5) and bronze-medalist Guelph Gryphons (478).
 
Toronto's men claimed their 19th straight provincial title with 790.5 points, ahead of Western (726) and the Waterloo Warriors (604).
 
"Winning the OUA championships is rewarding as it means the team can celebrate being champions," said Varsity Blues head coach Byron MacDonald. "As I tell them, it's hard to win. Yes, we have won this title a lot recently, but it doesn't diminish from the hard work that goes into it."
 
"As one of the local officials said to me, the OUA championships is her favourite meet to work. The excitement, cheering, and fun that happens at this meet is second to none. I agree with her - we are lucky to be in OUA swimming!"
 
MAJOR AWARD WINNERS: Fourth-year standout Aleksa Gold earned OUA female swimmer of the year honours, as well as the OUA community service award. 2020 Olympian Gabe Mastromatteo was named the OUA male swimmer of the year, while the Blues also swept the rookie of the year awards.

Nina Mollin took home female rookie of the year laurles, while Ben Loewen was named the male rookie of the year.
 
Mollin also earned the female Dr. Jeno Tihanyi Individual Medley excellence award, while Jacob Gallant earned the men's award.
 
WOMEN'S RESULTS: Ainsley McMurray led the Blues on the night. The fourth-year veteran won her fourth individual event of the meet, tying the OUA record in the women's 100 freestyle in 54.06 seconds. Lily Chubaty (55.28) and Teagan Vander Leek (56.43) completed the U of T sweep of the podium.

McMurray then anchored U of T's women's 400 freestyle relay team to an OUA record performance. McMurray along with Aleksa Gold, Gemma Norman and Chubaty touched the wall in 3:42.25.
 
Earlier in the night, Gold completed the sweep of the backstroke events, winning the 200-metre event in 2:09.70. Hayley Klenk earned the silver medal in 2:11.41.
 
For the second straight year, Anna Hein (8:44.90), Claire Howard (8:49.69) and Mahaylia Datars (8:53.06) finished 1-2-3 in the women's 800 freestyle.
 
Mollin won the 200 IM event in 2:13.66, while Shannon Russell was second in 2:17.01.
 
Angelica Bath, Madeline Spencer, Kaitlyn Burwell and Aleksa Gold opened the night with a win in the 200 medley relay in 1:54.04.
 
MEN'S RESULTS: 2020 Olympian Gabe Mastromateo led the Blues on Day 3, successfully defending his OUA 50 breaststroke title and winning in a new OUA record time of 27.60 seconds. Team captain Graeme Aylward was second in 27.78 seconds.
 
Loewen won his second individual title, touching the wall first in the men's 200 backstroke in 1:58.08. Carter Buck, who won the 50 and 100-metre events, was second in 1:58.92.
 
Rookie Quinn Mateis also won his second gold medal of the meet, winning the 1500 freestyle in 15:39.26.

Jacob Gallant successfully defended his 200 IM title, touching the wall in 2:01.17. Loewen was second in 2:02.79.
 
Buck, Aylward, Misha Bagrianski and Liam Weaver kicked off the night with a victory in the 200 medley relay in 1:39.85.
 
UP NEXT: The Blues head to Victoria for the 2023 U SPORTS national championships, February 23-25.
 
"The big goal all year is to win the women's national title and for our men to return to the national podium," added MacDonald. "So it's time to refocus; no rest for the weary."
 
MAJOR INDIVIDUAL AWARD WINNERS

Swimmer of the Year
Female – Aleksa Gold, Toronto
Male – Gabe Mastromatteo, Toronto

Rookie of the Year
Female – Nina Mollin, Toronto
Male – Ben Loewen, Toronto

Coach of the Year
Female – Chantique Carey-Payne, Guelph
Male – Paul Midgley, Western

Dr. Jeno Tihanyi Individual Medley Excellence Award
Female - Nina Mollin, Toronto
Male - Jacob Gallant, Toronto

Community Service Award
Female – Aleksa Gold, Toronto
Male – Nicholas Scott, Carleton
 
Awards of Distinction
Megan Deering, Western
Bernard Godolphin, Toronto
Aleksa Gold, Toronto
Claire Howard, Toronto
Ella Rennie, Western
Lukas Wormald, Waterloo


FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
 
Men's:
Toronto – 790.5
Western – 726
Waterloo – 604
McMaster – 512
Guelph – 227.5
Brock – 190
Carleton – 181
Queen's – 180
Laurier – 173
York - 129

Women's:
Toronto – 1207
Western – 777.5
Guelph – 478
McMaster – 428
Waterloo – 339.5
Queen's – 144
Brock – 129
Carleton – 122
Laurier – 103
York – 36


DAY 3 INDIVIDUAL MEDALISTS (Saturday)

Women 200m Medley Relay
1. Toronto, 1:54.04
(Angelica Bath, Madeline Spencer, Kaitlyn Burwell, Aleksa Gold)
2. Western, 1:55.04
(Emma Miron, Shona Branton, Megan Deering, Olivia Luka)
3. Guelph, 1:56.20
(Ashley Hodge, Hannah Nordquist, Ali Bertrim, Marcela Hontoria Arroyo)
 
Men 200m Medley Relay
1. Toronto, 1:39.85
(Carter Buck, Graeme Aylward, Misha Bagrianski, Liam Weaver)
2. McMaster, 1:41.43
(Colin Campbell, Cameron Johnsen, Bijan Ziaian, Cyrus Drabik)
3. Western, 1:41.97
(David Armstrong, Tristan Curry, Vladislav Zagidulin, Diyad Salouse)

Women 800m Free 
1. Anna Hein, Toronto, 8:44.90 
2. Claire Howard, Toronto, 8:49.69
3. Mahaylia Datars, Toronto, 8:53.06
 
Women 50m Breast
1. Shona Branton, Western, 31.52
2. Megan Deering, Western, 31.76
3. Madeline Spencer, Toronto, 31.84

Men 50m Breast
1. Gabe Mastromatteo, Toronto, 27.60 OUA RECORD
2. Graeme Aylward, Toronto, 27.78
3. Cam Teasdale, Carleton, 28.02

Women 200m Back
1. Aleksa Gold, Toronto, 2:09.70
2. Haley Klenk, Toronto, 2:11.41
3. Hannah Esterbrooks, Western, 2:12.76
 
Men 200m Back
1. Ben Loewen, Toronto, 1:58.08
2. Carter Buck, Toronto, 1:58.92
3. Andrew Herman, York, 2:00.56

Women 100m Free
1. Ainsley McMurray, Toronto, 54.06 OUA RECORD
2. Lily Chubaty, Toronto, 55.28
3. Teagan Vander Leek, Toronto, 56.43
 
Men 100m Free
1. Luke Stewart-Bender, Western, 49.70
2. Eric Ginzburg, York, 49.73
3. Kent Goni Avila, Laurier, 49.94
 
Men 1500m Free 
1. Quinn Mateis, Toronto, 15:39.26
2. Aidan Iapicco, Waterloo, 15:45.75
3. Hayden Bartoch, Western, 16:00.17


Women 200 IM
1. Nina Mollin, Toronto, 2:13.66
2. Shannon Russell, Toronto, 2:17.01
3. Ella Rennie, Western, 2:17.13

Men 200 IM
1. Jacob Gallant, Toronto, 2:01.17
2. Ben Loewen, Toronto, 2:02.79
3. Kieran Stone, Western, 2:03.75

Women 400 Free Relay
1. Toronto, 3:42.25 OUA RECORD
(Aleksa Gold, Gemma Norman, Lily Chubaty, Ainsley McMurray)
2. Western, 3:52.25
(Heidi Bartoch, Danielle Treasure, Kennedy Scott, Ella Rennie)
3. McMaster, 3:55.26
(Heather Aylward, Naeva Scott Bouris, Andie Llyod, Chelsea Zhou)

Men 400 Free Relay
1. Western, 3:21.70
(Ethan Placek, Kieran Stone, Justin D'Ailley, Luke Stewart-Beinder)
2. Waterloo, 3:25.45
(Raymond Duong, Gavin Lusby, Samuel Pei, Lukas Wormald)
3. Laurier, 3:27.25
(Kelton Langman, Daniel Romagnoli, William Bryer, Kent Goni Avila)


DAY 2 INDIVIDUAL MEDALISTS (Friday)

Women 400m Free
1. Claire Howard, Toronto, 4:12.80
2. Anna Hein, Toronto, 4:13.48
3. Mahaylia Datars, Toronto, 4:17.38
 
Men 400 Free
1. Quinn Matteis, Toronto, 3:53.75
2. Kieran Stone, Western, 3:54.32
3. Max Tambling, Toronto, 3:57.98

Women 50m Fly 
1. Ainsley McMurray, Toronto, 27.50
2. Kaitlyn Burwell, Toronto, 27.94
3. Teagan Vander Leek, Toronto, 27.95

Men 50 Fly 
1. Lukas Wormald, Waterloo, 24.66
2. Erik Ginzburg, York, 24.60
3. Gabe Mastromatteo, Toronto, 24.81

Women 200m Breast
1. Tina Guan, Toronto, 2:30.15
2. Ella Rennie, Western, 2:30.33
3. Megan Deering, Western, 2:31.26
 
Men 200m Breast
1. Cameron Johnsen, McMaster, 2:11.98
2. Gabe Mastromatteo, Toronto, 2:12.51
3. Jacob Gallant, Toronto, 2:14.06

Women 100m Back
1.Aleksa Gold, Toronto, 59.85
2. Hayley Klenk, Toronto, 1:00.53
3. Angelica Bath, Toronto, 1:01.37
 
Men 100m Back
1. Carter Buck, Toronto, 54.81
2. Andrew Herman, York, 55.37
3. David Armstrong, Western, 56.22

Women 200m Fly
1. Nina Mollin, Toronto, 2:13.54
2. Katie Marovino, Toronto, 2:16.88
3. Caroline Carruthers, Toronto, 2:17.95
 
Men 200m Fly
1. Ben Loewen, Toronto, 1:58.59
2. Michael Sava, Toronto 1:59.80
3. Alex Boden, Waterloo, 2:01.24

Women 50 Free
1. Ainsley McMurray, Toronto, 25.22
2. Lily Chubaty, Toronto, 25.57
3. Teagan Vander Leek, Toronto, 25.99
 
Men 50 Free
1. Liam Weaver, Toronto, 22.47
2. Eric Ginzburg, York, 22.59
2. Luke Stewart-Beinder, Western, 22.72

Women 800 Free Relay
1. Toronto, 8:14.79
(Hayley Klenk, Mahaylia Datars, Claire Howard, Anna Hein)
2. Western, 8:22.75
(Danielle Treasure, Ella Rennie, Hannah Estabrooks, Heidi Bartoch)
3. Guelph, 8:26.72
(Jessica Reibel, Tressa Billson, Isabella Mastroianni, Elizabeth Greaves)

Men 800 Free Relay
1. Toronto, 7:31.80)
(Max Tambling, Jacob Gallant, Ben Loewen and Quinn Matteis)
2. Western, 7:34.93
(Hayden Bartoch, Matthew Ketchin, Brent Davison, Kieran Stone)
3. McMaster, 7:36.41
(Max Angove, Trevor Laupland, Kevork Baghdassarian, Colin Campbell)


DAY 1 INDIVIDUAL MEDALISTS (Thursday)

Women 4x50 Free Relay
1. McMaster 1:46.00 
(Hiva Fazeli, Michelle Wang, Leah Russel, Heather Aylward
2. Western 1:47.61
(Kathleen Ross, Kennedy Scott, Olivia Luka, Hailey Lynch)
3. Toronto 1:47.82
(Angelica Bath, Gemma Norman, Shannon Russell, Teagan Vander Leek)
 
Men 4x50 Free Relay
1. Toronto, 1:30.96
(Misha Bagrianski, Graeme Aylward, Gabe Mastromatteo and Liam Weaver)
2. McMaster 1:31.60
(Cyrus Drabik, Bijan Ziaian, Josiah Terejko, Cameron Johnsen)
3. Waterloo 1:32.02
(Raymond Duong, Bryan Yang, Gavin Lusby, Lukas Wormald)

Women 200 Free 
1. Aleksa Gold, Toronto 1:58.54
2. Lily Chubaty, Toronto 2:01.26
3. Claire Howard, Toronto 2:02.38
 
Men 200 Free 
1. Bernard Godolphin, Toronto, 1:48.94
2. Kieran Stone, Western, 1:50.05
3. Jack Li, Queen's, 1:51.77

Women 50m Back
1. Aleksa Gold, Toronto, 28.40
2. Lily Chubaty, Toronto, 28.70
3. Angelica Bath, Toronto, 29.07
 
Men 50m Back
1. Carter Buck, Toronto, 25.76
2. Liam Weaver, Toronto, 25.85
3. Luke Stewart-Beinder, Western, 25.94

Women 100m Breast
1. Shona Branton, Western, 1:08.19 OUA RECORD
2. Madeline Spencer, Toronto,1:08.61
3. Megan Deering, Western, 1:08.86
 
Men 100m Breast
1. Gabe Mastromatteo, Toronto, 1:01.05 
2. Graeme Aylward, Toronto, 1:01.29
3. Cameron Johnsen, McMaster, 1:01.59

Women 100m Fly
1. Ainsley McMurray, Toronto, 1:01.50
2. Hayley Klenk, Toronto, 1:01.65
3. Caroline Carruthers, Toronto, 1:02.11
 
Men 100m Fly
1. Alex Boden, Waterloo, 54.38
2. Lukas Wormald, Waterloo, 54.45
3. Kent Goni Avila, Laurier, 54.74

Women 400 IM
1. Nina Mollin, Toronto, 4:44.86
2. Anna Hein, Toronto, 4:49.60
3. Ella Rennie, Western, 4:51.59
 
Men 400 IM
1. Jacob Gallant, Toronto, 4:16.50
2. Ben Loewen, Toronto, 4:18.61
3. Matthew Ketchin, Western, 4:27.23

Women 4x100 Medley Relay
1. Toronto, 4:09.61
(Haley Klenk, Madeline Spencer, Teagan Vander Leek, Lily Chubaty)
2. Western, 4:13.82
(Emma Miron, Shona Branton, Megan Deering, Hayley Lynch)
3. Guelph, 4:18.35
(Ashley Hodge, Hannah Nordquist, Abigail McDonald, Ali Bertrim)

Men 4x100 Medley Relay
1. Toronto 3:40.73
(Carter Buck, Gabe Mastromatteo, Michael Sava, Bernard Godolphin)
2. Western 3:45.51
(David Armstrong, Alexander Jensen, Ziyad Salouse, Hanwen Luo)
3. Waterloo 3:47.35
(Bryan Yang, Jake Gu, Alex Boden, Gavin Lusby)