Cal Men's Swim Team Makes it 2-for-2 at ACC Championships

The Golden Bears topped Stanford for their second conference title in as many seasons in their new conference.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The Cal men's swimming and diving program continued its dominance, winning the ACC Championship for the second consecutive year. The Golden Bears scored 1,154 points, topping Stanford's 1,076 points. Cal's women's team also had a strong showing, finishing third in the team competition.

Why it matters

Cal's swim program has maintained its excellence despite the move to the Atlantic Coast Conference, further cementing the school's reputation as a national powerhouse in the sport. The wins also set the team up well for the upcoming NCAA Championships as they look to extend their remarkable streak of 15 consecutive top-2 national finishes.

The details

The Cal men were led by sophomore Yamato Okadome, who swept the individual breaststroke events and was named the meet's Most Valuable Swimmer. The Bears also won the 400 medley relay. On the women's side, sophomore Mia West captured the 200 butterfly, and the team set three program records.

  • The ACC Championships took place from February 22-25, 2026.
  • The NCAA Championships are scheduled for March 25-28, 2026 in Atlanta.

The players

David Durden

The head coach of the Cal men's swimming and diving program.

Yamato Okadome

A sophomore swimmer from Chiba, Japan who swept the individual breaststroke events and was named the meet's Most Valuable Swimmer.

Evan Petty

A graduate student swimmer who won the 100 back event.

Mia West

A sophomore swimmer who won the 200 butterfly event.

Stanford

Cal's rival, who finished second to the Golden Bears in the ACC Championships.

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What they’re saying

“It's a great conference. We're excited to be in it. It's great competition heading into NCAAs.”

— David Durden, Head Coach (ACC Network)

“We had a long road to get here. Once we got here, we really got it rolling through the back end of the season. It was good to see these young guys really perform at an elite level.”

— David Durden, Head Coach (ACC Network)

What’s next

The Cal men's and women's swim teams will compete at the NCAA Championships in Atlanta from March 25-28, 2026, as they look to continue their strong seasons.

The takeaway

Cal's swim program has seamlessly transitioned to the ACC, maintaining its status as a national powerhouse and setting the stage for a potential run at NCAA titles. The team's depth and talent have allowed them to thrive in their new conference, further cementing the school's reputation as an elite swimming destination.