The 2025-26 USA Swimming Club Excellence Program: Celebrating Excellence in Youth Swimming!
On Friday, October 24, 2025, USA Swimming proudly announced the recipients of the 2025-26 Club Excellence program awards. This program shines a spotlight on the top-performing clubs dedicated to nurturing young athletes aged 18 and under. Curious to learn more about the program and its benefits? You can find out more by clicking here.
SwimMAC Carolina has once again taken the lead for the fourth consecutive year, amassing an impressive 66,831 points. This marks the twenty-first time the club has earned the prestigious Gold medal recognition. Notably, the top four athletes from the club contributed significantly, each surpassing 4,000 points. A huge congratulations to the top 10 athletes: David Sammons (4,677), Elle Scott (4,643), Santi Alzate (4,267.5), Clarke Neace (4,190), Caroline Mallard (3,994), Eli Sweet (3,754), Annie Shall (3,245), Jordan Willis (2,842.5), Isabella Green (2,089), and Emily Connors (2,083). Willis stood out by scoring the most points in a single event, earning 1,698 in the men’s 200-meter breaststroke. Adding to their achievements, Mallard, Sammons, Scott, and Willis are all members of the 2025-26 National Junior Team roster.
Rounding out the top five clubs are Carmel Swim Club (65,853), Lakeside Swim Team (55,787), Long Island Aquatic Club (55,187), and the Pleasanton Seahawks (51,066). It is worth noting that the top four teams have also been recognized as Podium Club recipients.
This year, the program recognizes 22 Gold clubs, 78 Silver clubs, and 100 Bronze clubs. A special shout-out to Mecklenburg Swim Association and Bend Swim Club, both of which have achieved Gold medal status for the first time. Below is a list of the USA Swimming member clubs that earned Gold Medal ranking for 2025-26:
- SwimMAC Carolina (NC) 66,831
- Carmel Swim Club (IN) 65,853
- Lakeside Swim Team (KY) 55,787
- Long Island Aquatic Club (MR) 55,187
- Pleasanton Seahawks (PC) 51,066
- Nation's Capital Swim Club (PV) 49,389
- TAC Titans (NC) 40,088
- Irvine Novaquatics (CA) 39,515
- Sarasota Sharks (FL) 36,901
- Bolles School Sharks (FL) 36,675
- Mason Manta Rays (OH) 36,266
- Academy Bullets Swim Club (IL) 34,442
- Lakeside Aquatic Club (NT) 33,148
- Mecklenburg Swim Association (NC) 32,801
- NOVA of Virginia Aquatics, Inc (VA) 32,168
- Sandpipers Of Nevada (CA) 31,290
- SwimAtlanta (GA) 28,834
- Bellevue Club Swim Team (PN) 28,463
- Aquajets Swim Team (MN) 25,227
- Santa Clara Swim Club (PC) 24,049
- Bend Swim Club (OR) 12,959
- Cavalier Aquatics/Piedmont Family YMCA (VA) 11,371
For a complete list of the 2025-26 Club Excellence Program results, you can view them here.
Congratulations are also in order for the 23 clubs that have earned Club Excellence status for the first time:
- Sporting Jax Aquatic Club (Silver, 15,362)
- Aggie Swim Club (Silver, 11,561)
- Wahoo Aquatic Club (Silver, 8,140)
- Revolution Aquatic Club (Bronze, 7,688)
- River City Aquatics (Bronze, 6,711)
- Williamsburg Aquatic Club (Bronze, 6,431)
- Life Time Northern California (Bronze, 6,221)
- University Of Notre Dame (Bronze, 6,118)
- Charles River Aquatics (Bronze, 5,784)
- Lakeridge Swim Team (Bronze, 5,589)
- Sacramento Aquatics Club (Bronze, 5,467)
- Wahoo's of Wellington (Bronze, 5,442)
- University of Louisville (Bronze, 5,075)
- H2okie Aquatics (Bronze, 4,850)
- Center Grove Aquatic Club (Bronze, 4,314)
- Valley Splash (Bronze, 4,291)
- Supernova Swim Team (Bronze, 4,265)
- Columbia Swimming (Bronze, 3,847)
- Mount Lebanon Aqua Club (Bronze, 3,817)
- Sunrise Swim Club (Bronze, 3,803 points)
- Jupiter Dragons Swim Team (Bronze, 3,768)
- Ladera Oaks (Bronze, 3,750)
- Tyler Rose Aquatic Club (Bronze, 3,741)
Here's an interesting fact: Out of the 200 USA Swimming member clubs that received recognition, Southern California Swimming led all LSCs for the second year in a row, with a total of 12 clubs recognized. Furthermore, three teams from New England Swimming and another three from Pacific Swimming were among the 23 clubs that earned recognition for the first time.
In addition to the USA Swimming Club Excellence program, USA Swimming also recognizes 12 clubs as 2025-26 Podium Clubs. To achieve Podium Club status, a USA Swimming member club must maintain Gold medal club status for four consecutive years. Congratulations to the following clubs for being recognized as a Podium Club this year:
- SwimMAC Carolina (66,831)
- Carmel Swim Club (65,853)
- Lakeside Swim Team (55,787)
- Long Island Aquatic Club (55,187)
- Nation's Capital Swim Club (49,389)
- Irvine Novaquatics (39,515)
- Sarasota Sharks (36,901)
- Bolles School Sharks (36,675)
- Lakeside Aquatic Club (33,148)
- NOVA of Virginia Aquatics, Inc (32,168)
- Sandpipers Of Nevada (31,290)
- Aquajets Swim Team (25,227)
Congratulations to all the clubs that achieved Gold, Silver, and Bronze medal status! For more detailed information about the Club Excellence program, click here.
What are your thoughts on these rankings? Do you agree with the results, or are there any surprises? Share your opinions in the comments below!
