U SPORTS unveils roster for inaugural Dual Meet featuring All-Star teams from Canadian and British Universities
U SPORTS is proud to announce the 40 student-athletes who will represent Canadian Universities at the inaugural Canada–Great Britain University Dual Meet, taking place July 3–4 in Loughborough, England. The historic event will see some of the top Canadian and British university swimmers in a thrilling head-to-head international competition.
Athletes were selected from among the medalists at the 2025 U SPORTS Swimming Championships. Eligibility is limited to swimmers who did not compete at the Paris Olympics and are not members of Canada’s teams for the 2025 FISU World University Games or the 2025 FINA World Aquatics Championships.
The U SPORTS champion UBC Thunderbirds lead the Canadian delegation with 11 swimmers (six women, five men), followed by the University of Toronto Varsity Blues with ten selections. Ten universities from across the country are represented on Team Canada.
Standout Athletes
- Tanner Cole (Edmonton, Alta.) of UBC headlines the men’s roster after winning three U SPORTS medals, including gold in the 400m individual medley. Cole continues a family legacy—his mother, Donna McGinnis, represented Canada in the same event at the 1984 Olympics and later won gold at the 1986 Commonwealth Games.
- Andrew Herman (Redondo Beach, Calif.) from the U of T joins the team after an impressive four-medal haul (three silver, one bronze) at the U SPORTS Championships. Herman is the son of 1988 Olympian Mojca Cater.
- On the women’s side, Raphaëlle Tremblay (Rivière-du-Loup, Que.) of the Laval Rouge et Or—named U SPORTS Rookie of the Year—leads the way. Tremblay earned bronze in the 400m freestyle, competing alongside national champions and Olympians in a stacked final.
- Olivia Brendzan (University of Alberta) will compete alongside her twin brother, Garrett, who captured silver medals—Olivia in the women’s 400m medley and Garrett in the men’s 50m breaststroke.
Click here [Link Placeholder]to view the full roster.
Coaching Staff
Byron MacDonald (University of Toronto) will serve as head coach, joined by assistant coaches Peter Carpenter (McGill) and Sarah Rudolf (UBC).
Peter Bradstreet, retired coach at Brock University, has been appointed team manager.
The Canada–Great Britain Dual Meet results from the collaboration between U SPORTS, its swimming coaches, the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS), and provincial partners such as Swim Ontario, which has provided financial support for select athletes.
QUOTES
Matthew Davies – U SPORTS Chief Sport Officer
"U SPORTS is pleased to send 40 student-athletes from ten universities to this historic event. We thank our colleagues in England for hosting and our U SPORTS coaches for bringing this vision to life, expanding international opportunities for Canadian university swimmers."
Byron MacDonald – U SPORTS Head Coach (University of Toronto)
"I’m excited to lead this exceptional group of swimmers overseas to compete against some of Britain’s best. This event will be a defining moment in many of these athletes’ careers and significantly boost university swimming in Canada."
Derrick Schoof – President, U SPORTS Swimming Coaches Association (UBC)
"Travelling to England to face elite British student-athletes is a tremendous opportunity. We hope this will be the first of many international competitions for U SPORTS swimmers."
TEAM CANADA ROSTER (Canada-Great Britain Dual Meet)
Women’s Team / Équipe féminine
Name/Nom University/Université Hometown/Ville Natale
Eloise Allen UBC Gibsons, BC
Angelica Bath Toronto North Vancouver, BC
Una Borchgrevink UBC Baerum, Norway
Olivia Brendzan Alberta Edmonton, AB
Emilie de Chazal McGill Zug, Switzerland
Gabrielle Dunn Alberta Edmonton, AB
Erin Epp Victoria Kelowna, BC
Hannah Johnsen Calgary Thunder Bay, ON
Ella Howe Manitoba Saskatoon, SK
Emilia Mastromatteo McGill Kenora, ON
Nina Mollin Toronto Schaumburg, Illinois
Emma Spence UBC Regina, SK
Camryn Stannard UBC Parksville, BC
Iris Tinmouth McGill Comox, BC
Raphaëlle Tremblay Laval Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Teagan Vander Leek Toronto Edmonton, AB
Zea Wetzlaugk Western Amsterdam, Netherlands
Brooklyn Wiens UBC Red Deer, AB
Men’s Team / Équipe masculine
Name/Nom University/Université Hometown/Ville Natale
Joel Blanco UBC Maple Ridge, BC
Garrett Brendzan Alberta Edmonton, AB
Albert Bouley Toronto Toronto, ON
Tanner Cole UBC Edmonton, AB
Loïc Courville-Fortin McGill Repentigny, QC
Bill Dongfang Toronto Victoria, BC
Nicholas Duncan Calgary Calgary, AB
Wells Ginzer UBC Heritage Point, AB
Kent Goni Avila Laurier Richmond Hill, ON
Andrew Herman Toronto Redondo Beach, California
Kai Lilienthal UBC Sydney, Australia
Quinn Matteis Toronto Chatham, ON
Thomas McDonald Calgary Elora, ON
Justice Migneault UBC Port Coquitlam, BC
Stephen Moore Calgary Salmon Arm, BC
Hunter Payne Calgary Brantford, ON
Olivier Risk UBC Ottawa, ON
Michael Sava Toronto Toronto, ON
Charlie Skalenda Calgary Toronto, ON
Luke Stewart-Beinder Western Maple Ridge, BC
Nathan Thomas Toronto Pointe-Claire, QC
Ben Winterborn Toronto Kingston, ON
Coaching & Support staff / Entraîneurs et équipe de soutienne
Byron MacDonald Toronto Head Coach/Entraîneur-chef
Peter Carpenter McGill Coach/Entraîneur
Sarah Rudolf UBC Coach/Entraîneuse
Peter Bradstreet Brock (retired/retraité) Manager/Gérant
University/Université Women/Femmes Men/Hommes
Alberta 2 1
Calgary 1 5
Laurier 0 1
Laval 1 0
Manitoba 1 0
McGill 3 1
Toronto 3 7
Western 1 1
UBC 5 6
Victoria 1
Total/Totale 18 22