HOUSTON, Texas -- Samantha Banos was the highlight on the final day of The Big West Championships for UC Santa Barbara as the women secured a third-place finish and men finished in fourth.

UC Santa Barbara secured a solid third-place finish in the women's competition with a total of 660 points at the 2026 Big West Conference Championships. Senior Andres made a notable impact, finishing fifth in the 1650-yard freestyle, earning 14 points. In the 200-yard butterfly, Banos claimed victory, contributing 20 points to the team's overall score and earning an automatic qualifying time to the NCAA Championships. In the 400-yard freestyle relay, the Gauchos' team clinched first place, adding 40 points to the tally.

In the men's division, the Gauchos captured fourth place overall with 568 points. The men's 400-yard freestyle relay team secured a third-place finish, earning 32 points. Freshman Aneesh Veeravatnam contributed to the team's standings with a fifth-place finish in the 200-yard backstroke. In the 200-yard butterfly, Henry Heit placed fourth. The team demonstrated depth across multiple events, further solidifying their competitive standing in the championship.