Cuesta Men's and Women's Swimming opened the 2026 season at the Western State Conference Baratte Open in Ventura.  Cuesta Men's Swim and Dive has won six of the last eight Western State Conference titles, a run that coincided with the retirement of the meet namesake, former Ventura College Coach and Ventura County Hall of Famer Larry Baratte. 

 

The men's team is led by 2025 Cuesta Athlete of the Year and CCCAA State Swimmer of the Year Grant Huston, who set new records in eight of the program's 18 individual events, while posting an all-time Cuesta Top 10 mark in eight more.  The Cougars also return 2024 All American Brady Lind, took two 1sts and a 2nd, behind Huston, and All American Poloist Dustin Drobeck, who claimed Bronze in the 100-butterfly.  Newcomers Zach Pechan, Jett Hardy and Janson Cunningham boosted the Cougars' veterans and pushed the team to the title.  Hardy and Pechan each earned a Silver in the lanes, in the 200-freestyle and 100-backstroke, respectively, while Cunningham claimed Broze off the 1-meter board. 

 

On the women's side, All American Annika Pauschek joined Freshman Tristen Bettencourt to lead the Cougars in the lanes, while Divers Kelly Churchill and Raylee Anderson scored off the planks.  Pauschek earned a pair of Silvers in the 100-backstroke and 500-freestyle, where she was chased by Bettencourt.  Bettencourt was just seven seconds behind her teammate.  Churchill was the women's only title winner on the day.  She opened the day with a Bronze (127.54), while finishing just behind teammate Raylee Anderson, who took the Silver (129.60).  Churchill bounced back to take the competition off the high-dive with a comfortable double-digit cushion (138.40).  Overall, the women finished 3rd in the ten-team event.  

 

Cuesta Aquatics shall go back to training for the next two weeks and Western State Conference and returns to host their competition, February 20th, for their first of three WSC Mini Meets.