Get ready for the thrilling conclusion of the 2026 Big West Championships! With just one day left, the Hawaii men and women are leading the pack, but there's still plenty of excitement and controversy to come.
Hawaii Dominates, But Men's Battle Intensifies
The Hawaii women are on a roll, with an impressive 110-point lead that seems almost unbeatable. However, the men's competition is heating up, as Hawaii and Grand Canyon are locked in a tight race, with only 31 points separating them. It's anyone's game on the final day!
Women's Meet Recap: Automatic Qualifiers and Personal Records
Friday's women's meet was a showcase of talent and determination. Two swimmers, Asia Kozan of UCSD and Ella Ackerman of UC Davis, secured automatic qualifiers (AQ) for the NCAA Championships. Kozan's win in the 200 free was a thrilling moment, as she just dipped under the AQ time by a mere hundredth of a second!
Eva Boehlke of UCSD also had a standout performance, winning the 100 fly and setting a new personal best. But here's where it gets controversial: Boehlke just missed the AQ time by two tenths, leaving some fans wondering if she could have pushed harder. What do you think?
In the 400 IM, Ackerman dominated with a huge drop in time, winning her first conference championship. Her improvement of three seconds is a testament to her hard work and dedication.
Men's Recap: A New Auto Qualifier and Tight Races
On the men's side, Vili Sivec of Cal State Bakersfield stole the show, earning an automatic berth in the 100 fly. Sivec's time of 45.91 was just two tenths ahead of UCSD's Hunter Cehelnik, showcasing the fine line between success and disappointment in swimming.
Tom Thalau, the 200 IM winner from the previous night, continued his winning streak in the 400 IM, dropping over two seconds from his personal best.
The men's 200 freestyle saw Hawaii's Victor Dagenais take the top spot, with Grand Canyon's Mario Perez close behind.
And this is the part most people miss: Karol Ostrowski, a grad student from Hawaii, not only secured his second NCAA standard of the meet in the 100 back but also qualified for a second event at the meet. Talk about a double whammy!
The Final Day: Who Will Reign Supreme?
As we head into the last day of the championships, the pressure is on. Will Hawaii maintain their lead and claim the overall title? Or will Grand Canyon pull off an upset in the men's competition?
Don't miss the thrilling conclusion! Follow the links below for live results and event schedules:
- Live Results: https://swimmeetresults.tech/Big-West-2026/
- Schedule of Events: https://swimswam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026-Big-West-SDScheduleofEvents.pdf (PDF)
- Championship Central: https://bigwest.org/tournaments/?id=139
Join the conversation and share your predictions in the comments! Who do you think will emerge as the champions?
