BLUES WIN STRATTEN DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIPS

The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's and women's swimming teams swept the 2025 OUA Stratten Division Championships, November 22-23, at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont.

"Winning the OUA divisional champs is a nice way to finish off the fall part of our season," said Varsity Blues head coach Byron MacDonald. "But while winning a title is nice, in our sport it's also critical that the times that athletes swim are on track for great things at the end of the season in the winter, and we had a ton of good ones this weekend. The overall atmosphere is simply fantastic. So much cheering and excitement. These types of meets are fun to be a part of."

Toronto's women finished with a combined team score of 1,043 points, ahead of the Western Mustangs (888), McMaster Marauders (596) and host Brock Badgers (591).

The Blues finished 1-2 in four races on Day 2. Rookies Abbi Bahler and Maria Cosic placed first and second, respectively in the 200 individual medley in 2:16.49 and 2:17.49, while fellow first-year standouts Chloe Danks (2:29.00) and Julie Nolan-McCarthy (2:30.21) touched the wall first and second in the 200 breaststroke.
Danks had also won the 100 breaststroke on Day 1.

"Chloe has good legacy and genes behind her," said MacDonald. "Her mother was a national champion in the 1990's with the Blues. Our outstanding women's rookie class will be the key to the Blues performances over the next few years."

Teagan Vander Leek won the 100 freestyle event in 55.41, followed by fellow fourth-year veteran Gemma Norman in 56.17 seconds. Two-time U of T reigning athlete of the year Nina Mollin won the 200 butterfly in 2:13.41, followed by second-year standout Angel Yao in 2:16.23.

First-year commerce major Natalie Hocevar rounded out the Blues women's dominance with a first-place finish in the 400 freestyle in 4:20.80.

Toronto capped off the meet with a first-place finish in the women's 4x100 freestyle relay. Cosic, Vander Leek, Norman and Hocevar touched the wall in 3:44.30, almost six seconds ahead of Western (3:50.12).

The Blues men combined for 956 points over the two-day meet, ahead of western (734), McMaster (695.5) and Brock (606.50).

First-year standout Elijah Daley had an exceptional day, winning the 200 IM (2:00.87) and 50 butterfly (24.52), while placing second in the 50 breaststroke in 28.60.

"EJ had many options for school but finally landed on U of T and we are very pleased to have him" said MacDonald. "He will be a player on the national scene and just as importantly his demeanor and attitude are great additions to the squad."

Andrew Herman (52.04), Ben Winterborn (54.04) and Carter Buck (54.98) placed 1-2-3 in the men's 100 backstroke, while Michael Sava won the 200 butterfly (2:03.69), Nathan Thomas placed first in the 200 breaststroke (2:14.60) and Quinn Matteis won the 400 freestyle in 3:54.12.

Toronto also won both relays on Day 2. Herman, Thomas, Sava and Liam Weaver won the 4x50 medley relay in 1:39.66, while Paul Yang, Raymond Duong, Buck and Herman dominated the 4x100 freestyle relay in 3:19.74.

The Blues are back in action in the new year when they host the York Lions in dual-meet action on Saturday, January 10 at Varsity Pool.

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