There is reason for excitement surrounding Caltech Swim & Dive in 2026-27 as the Beavers enter the season under the leadership of new head coach Tony Cox, who was introduced this fall to lead both programs.

Cox arrives in Pasadena with extensive collegiate coaching experience and a reputation for developing student-athletes both in and out of the pool, making him a natural fit for one of the nation's premier academic institutions.

The new era begins with plenty of momentum after a successful 2025-26 season.

Both the men's and women's teams are coming off historic 2025-26 campaigns that featured program records, SCIAC award winners, NCAA regional qualifiers and some of the strongest dual-meet results in school history. The Beavers return a strong core of veterans and rising underclassmen poised to continue the program's upward trajectory.

Among the top returners on the men's side is senior Zachary Pestrikov (Rye, N.Y. / Iona Preparatory), who enjoyed a breakout season in 2025-26 and enters the year as one of the conference's premier versatile swimmers. Pestrikov established himself among the program's top performers and returns with program-top-10 credentials after an outstanding SCIAC Championships performance where he earned third in the 200 IM. Fellow Senior leaders Marcel Liu (Natick, Mass. / Phillips Academy) and Reid Nussbaum (Cohasset, Mass. / Cohasset) provide experience throughout the lineup.

Caltech will also look for continued development from a talented younger group that includes junior Thomas Fenton (Lynchburg, Va. / Virginia Episcopal School), sophomore Brent Kong (Scotts Valley, Calif. / Scotts Valley High School) and sophomore Darren Liu (Cary, N.C. / Green Level High School) and Jack Yu (Albuquerque, N.M. / Albuquerque Academy). Fenton was a key contributor on a strong relay squad at the conference championships a season ago.

On the boards, junior Anthony Wang (San Jose, Calif. / Evergreen Valley) returns after advancing to NCAA Diving Regionals last season and figures to play a major role in the Beavers' conference success.

The women's team likewise enters the season with significant expectations after a record-breaking 2025-26 campaign.

Among the returning veterans is junior Elizabeth Ma (Houston, Texas / Phillips Exeter Academy), who set a school record in the 400 IM last season. In diving, junior program-record holder Ava Balanon (Irvine, Calif. / Arnold O. Beckman High School) and fellow junior Kassie Kristufek (Irvine, Calif. / The Loomis Chaffee School) strengthen a diving group that saw numerous positive results at SCIAC Championships in 2025.  

While the conference season is yet to begin, Caltech began its 2026-27 schedule Saturday, Oct. 24, welcoming Fresno Pacific to Braun and Alumni Pools. Caltech's first-year class made an immediate impact winning six individual events and helping three relays to victory as the Beavers swept Fresno Pacific. The women won 166-56 and the men won 144-46.

First-year Tingting Luo (Warren, N.J. / Pingry School) swept the breaststroke events, winning the 100 in 1:09.51 and the 200 in 2:32.63. First-year Joy Liu (Torrance, Calif. / California Academy of Math and Science) won the 100 fly in 1:03.54 and placed third in the 100 free in 57.77. Both swam on the winning 200 medley relay (1:54.39).

First-year Jason Starodub (Four Bridges, Ohio / Cincinnati Country Day School) swept the backstroke events, winning the 100 in 53.56 and the 200 in 2:00.65. First-year Anthony Yang (San Diego, Calif. / Canyon Crest Academy) won the 500 free in 5:04.80, placed second in the 100 breast in 1:02.50, and swam on the 400 free relay that won by 0.30 seconds (3:19.57). First-year Samuel Xie (Princeton, N.J. / The Lawrenceville School) placed second in the 100 fly (53.02) and 200 fly (2:02.70), and joined Starodub on the winning 200 medley relay (1:36.83).

The conference slate begins Saturday, Nov. 7 at Whittier before the Beavers travel to a SCIAC tri-meet featuring Pomona-Pitzer and La Verne on Saturday, Nov. 14. The annual Occidental Invitational follows Nov. 21-22 and will provide an early measurement against some of the region's top competition.

Several of the season's most anticipated dates will take place in Pasadena.

Caltech hosts defending SCIAC power Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and Trinity University on Saturday, Jan. 9 at 10:30 a.m. in what could be one of the year's premier competitions. One week later, the Beavers return home to face Azusa Pacific and Occidental on Saturday, Jan. 16 at 10:30 a.m. before closing their home conference schedule against Cal Lutheran on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 10:30 a.m.

After a final regular-season SCIAC test at Chapman and Redlands on Feb. 6, attention will turn to the centerpiece of the season: the SCIAC Championships, scheduled for Feb. 17-20 at East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park. With many of the conference's top returners back in action, the championships once again loom as the defining meet of the year.

With record holders, NCAA regional qualifiers, all-conference performers and a deep collection of returning talent throughout both rosters, Caltech appears poised to continue its rise within the SCIAC. Under Cox's leadership, the Beavers will look to build on last season's accomplishments while pursuing another memorable conference championship campaign.

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