Mounties make waves with a successful swim season
The Mount Allison Mounties swim teams closed out a strong season at the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) Swimming Championships, with the women finishing second overall and the men earning third place — a result that reflects the steady growth and momentum of the program.
With her first season as head coach complete, Brenna Maddalena says she is pleased with the team’s results and describes the experience as both exciting and rewarding.
“This group makes coaching incredibly fun,” she says. “They show up ready to work, support one another, and bring great energy to the pool every day. A happy swimmer is a good swimmer.”
Through the season, the Mounties competed in five meets — three in 2025 and two in 2026 — including the team’s first time hosting a meet at MtA in several years. Hosting the competition was a major highlight this season and showcased the strength of the program, with support from volunteers, alumni, and the wider Tantramar community.
This year, Mounties broke five team records, including several relay achievements by the women’s team. The 4×100 freestyle, 4×100 medley, and 4×200 freestyle relay teams all reached the podium this season — the program’s first relay podium finishes since 2017.
At the AUS championships, hosted at Memorial University in February 2026, the Mounties had several standout performances and historic milestones for the program.
Individually, several swimmers delivered remarkable results:
• Senior John Roberts broke the Mounties record in the 50-metre breaststroke, becoming the first swimmer in program history to dip under 30 seconds.
• Rookie Andrew Sauer placed fourth in the 1,500-metre freestyle, setting a new Mount Allison record with a time of 16:50, surpassing the previous mark of 17:15 set by senior Ryan Duggan.
• Rookie Jes Lawrence ranked third in AUS rookie standings and maintained that position throughout the season.
The Mounties swim team featured 16 men and 24 women this season — which included six exhibition swimmers contributing to the program — making the full women’s roster the largest in program history.
The team also celebrated the achievements of 12 graduating swimmers — eight women and four men — who have been with the program since their first year. Their journey came full circle this season, as their first university meet took place at Memorial University and their final AUS championships were also hosted at the same location.
Graduating swimmer Tristan Raine (BA Comm ’26) says the shared experiences helped shape the team’s close-knit culture. “We’ve been through a lot together as a team,” he says. “Moments like that really bring everyone closer. It’s been incredible to see how the program has grown during my time here. My first year, we were still dealing with Covid-19 regulations. Now, that seems like so long ago. We’ve really bonded in these last years.”
Second-year student Emma Wintermeyer, an Environmental Science student who joined the Mounties this year as a transfer, says the welcoming team culture stood out immediately. “Everyone has been so supportive,” she says. “It really feels like a family away from home, both Sackville and Mount Allison.”
Wintermeyer delivered a highlight at AUS championships with a personal-best time in the 400-metre freestyle after beginning the season as an exhibition swimmer and working her way onto the active roster.
With recruitment going well — including eight incoming women and four incoming men (a ‘net zero’ recruiting result compared to the large number of graduating seniors) — the program is continuing to build depth across the roster. Transfers have also integrated smoothly into the team, contributing to the strong culture that defines the Mounties.
Even with the conclusion of the official season, swimmers are continuing to train individually and compete through Swim Canada events, with several athletes setting their sights on U SPORTS national qualification in the 2026-27 season.
The Mounties will once again host the opening AUS meet in October 2026 after great feedback from this past year’s event.
For Maddalena, the goal moving forward is clear: “the foundation is strong, the team culture is excellent, and we’re working toward that next step — competing for first place.”
For a program that proudly embraces its reputation as “the little school that does big things,” the Mounties are proving that dedication, teamwork, and community support can create waves far beyond the pool.
