Trio of Convention Champions, Ostrowski, Sivec, and Thalau Compete on Last Day of NCAA Championships

Cal State Bakersfield and Hawai’i had been represented yer once more on the 2026 NCAA Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships, as senior swimmer Karol Ostrowski, sophomore swimmer Tom Thalau, and senior swimmer Vili Sivec showcased the depth of The Big West on the nationwide stage at Georgia Tech’s McAuley Aquatic Center.

Competing within the Strachoin, Poland natives’ third occasion of Championship weekend, Ostrowski competed within the 100-yard freestyle prelims, posting a time of 42.08 in an early-morning swim, as soon as once more breaking the UH program report. The mark provides to an already historic season for the senior, who secured NCAA qualification with computerized requirements within the 50 free (19.13), 100 free (42.41), and 100 again (46.16) on the Big West Championships. The convention’s 2026 Men’s Swimmer of the Year tallied a meet-best 60 factors en path to a group title, claiming six gold medals and one silver whereas setting Big West data within the 50 free and 100 free. The exhibiting marked the third consecutive NCAA look for the senior, changing into the primary Rainbow Warrior to attain the feat since 2019.

Thalau took to the pool within the 200 IM prelims, touching in 1:45.38 to cap a robust debut NCAA Division I look. The senior earned the chance after a dominant efficiency on the Big West Championships, capturing titles within the 200 IM (1:43.93) and 400 IM (3:47.09), and contributed to a number of relay victories. 

Sivec added to The Big West’s presence within the pool, competing within the 200-yard butterfly and recording a time of 1:43.26. This was Sivec’s second occasion after swimming within the 100-butterfly on Thursday. The senior’s efficiency got here in opposition to a extremely aggressive nationwide area, as Sivec carried momentum from a robust season into the NCAA Championships.