The University of Toronto Varsity Blues swimming teams opened 2025 with a dual meet versus the York Lions, hosting their GTA-counterpart at the Athletic Centre - Varsity Pool on Saturday (Jan. 4) morning.

The No. 3 nationally ranked women's swimming team claimed victory with a 76-34 point advantage over the visitors, while the No. 3 nationally ranked men's team also topped York with a final score of 55-35.

Double event winners for the Blues women were Raili Kary (50m, 100m backstroke), Teagan Vander Leek (100m, 200m IM), and Hana Greenberg (50m, 100m butterfly). Meanwhile for the men, Brendan Oswald claimed wins in the 100m butterfly and 100m IM.

Solo winners on both sides of the event included Sydney Winokur (100m breaststroke), Kayla Houlder (50m freestyle), Quinn Matteis (100m backstroke), Misha Bagrianski (50m freestyle), Albert Bouley (50m butterfly), and Andrew Herman (50m backstroke).

"This was a rough meet in terms of being right after the exam/Christmas break and then right during a real intense twice-a-day training period for us," said Varsity Blues swimming head coach Byron MacDonald. "The athletes were tired; but we needed to get back on the blocks in order to start prepping their bodies for our upcoming meets, including next week when we host the No. 2 ranked Calgary Dinos."

The Varsity Blues and Dinos will begin their dual meet at 12 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11 at the Athletic Centre - Varsity Pool.