Cal State Bakersfield and Hawai'i were represented yer again at 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 national stage at Georgia Tech's McAuley Aquatic Center.

Competing in the Strachoin, Poland natives' third event of Championship weekend, Ostrowski competed in the 100-yard freestyle prelims, posting a time of 42.08 in an early-morning swim, once again breaking the UH program record. The mark adds to an already historic season for the senior, who secured NCAA qualification with automatic standards in the 50 free (19.13), 100 free (42.41), and 100 back (46.16) at the Big West Championships. The conference's 2026 Men's Swimmer of the Year tallied a meet-best 60 points en route to a team title, claiming six gold medals and one silver while setting Big West records in the 50 free and 100 free. The showing marked the third consecutive NCAA appearance for the senior, becoming the first Rainbow Warrior to achieve the feat since 2019.

Thalau took to the pool in the 200 IM prelims, touching in 1:45.38 to cap a strong debut NCAA Division I appearance. The senior earned the opportunity after a dominant performance at the Big West Championships, capturing titles in the 200 IM (1:43.93) and 400 IM (3:47.09), and contributed to multiple relay victories. 

Sivec added to The Big West's presence in the pool, competing in the 200-yard butterfly and recording a time of 1:43.26. This was Sivec's second event after swimming in the 100-butterfly on Thursday. The senior's performance came against a highly competitive national field, as Sivec carried momentum from a strong season into the NCAA Championships.