Santa Barbara, Calif - For the Third Straight time to start off this 2025-26 swim season, UC Santa Barbara's Samantha Banos has been named the Big West Athlete of the Week for her performance at dual meets with San Diego State, University of Denver and the hosts' Cal Baptist last weekend.

Samantha Banos swam in four individual events and the 400 Medley and Free relays'. Banos posted three season bests this past weekend, taking home no lower than a Second Place finish. She took 2.33 seconds off of her season best time in the 200 Free where she placed second. The now three-time Big West Athlete of the week was able to knock another .32 seconds off her dominant 200 Fly time, a race she has finished first in every time she's swam it this season. Finally Banos dropped 3.28 seconds off of her previous season best in the 200 IM where she placed second. She also competed individually in the 500 free where she swam a time of 4.52:54 which was enough to grab her other first place finish from that weekend.

Banos anchored the Gauchos' 400 Free relay with a split of 49.82 which helped lead the Blue and Gold to a first place finish. She swam the 100 Fly in the 400 Medley relay with a split of 53.60 which placed her squad second.

Banos swam in 6 total events this past weekend bringing home three First place finishes and three Second place finishes, two of each which were individually won. 

Next Time Out 

The Blue and Gold has a week off to prepare for another set of dual meets down in Malibu against UC San Diego and the host Pepperdine.