CALGARY – It was a dominant showing to kick off the 2025-26 season for the University of Calgary Dinos this weekend, sweeping their annual Dinos Invitational from inside the UCalgary Aquatic Centre.

In all, Calgary racked up 25 wins out of 40 events over the two-day meet, with 24 different Dinos finishing atop the podium in a dominant show of depth.

Hannah Johnsen set the tone for the women's squad right out of the gates. The fifth year from Thunder Bay, Ont., won the first individual meet of the weekend, touching the wall at 2:12.85 in the 200 backstroke, with rookie teammate Rosie Housman coming in second in 2:15.20. Johnsen went on to also win the 100 backstroke on the weekend in 1:02.06 in a tight race.

Alexanne Lepage won three individual events in the opener, starting with a winning time of 2:15.89 in the 200 IM before cruising to convincing wins in the 400 IM (4:46.80) and 100 breaststroke (1:07.82).

Rookie Sarah Haugen impressed in her Dinos debut, topping the field in both the 100 IM (1:05.59) and the 200 breaststroke (2:36.73) 

Other winners on the weekend included Emily De Jager in the 400 freestyle (4:25.87) and Myriam Hickey in the 100 freestyle (57.25), while Eliza Housman, Claire Bennett, Julianne Moore, and Kaitlyn Luu all helped bring home wins in relay events.

On the men's side, Ethan Fast lone multi-event winner of the weekend. The fourth year helped lead a Dinos sweep in the 50 backstroke, touching first in 25.94, with Thomas McDonald (26.08) and Henry Sclater (27.34) bringing home silver and bronze. Fast also won the 100 back in 56.32 – nearly two full seconds ahead of second place.

A number of rookies brought home wins in the first meet in the Scarlet & Gold cap. Ewan Shearer earned the win in the 200 back in 2:03.87. Sinan Onur had a convincing performance in the 200 breaststroke, touching out in 2:20.38 – four seconds ahead of second place. Zackary Bowie rounded out the first day of action with another Dinos win, this time in the 400 free where he touched first in 4:01.73, while classmates Aiden Gyorfi (4:02.36) and Shearer (4:02.72) rounded out the rookie sweep for the Dinos.

Also picking up individual wins on the weekend for Calgary were Matthew Syrgiannis (400 IM / 4:31.96), Ian Cameron (100 IM / 57.77), Liam Dennett (200 free / 1:53.42), Thomas McDonald (50 butterfly / 24.60) and Carter Scheffel (100 breast / 1:03.49).

Five more Dinos picked up gold medals in relay action, including Henry Sclater, Aiden Luykenaar, Gibson Black, Stephen Moore and Addison Butler.

The Dinos are right back in action this weekend, hitting the road for the first time with a trip to Vancouver for the annual University Cup meet, starting Saturday.

-UC-