California Baptist University will host the inaugural Rick Rowland Joust at the Lancer Aquatic Center on Friday and Saturday, November 6-7, 2026. The women’s swim meet events begin at 11 a.m. each day and admission is free.
The meet honors Rick Rowland, who founded CBU’s swimming and water polo programs in 1999 and served as head coach for 25 years. Under his leadership, the programs won eight NAIA team national championships and earned five Coach of the Year honors. Rowland was named one of the 100 Greatest Coaches by the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America in 2021.
Participating teams include California Baptist University, UC Santa Barbara (men’s and women’s), San Diego State (women’s only), The Master’s University (men’s and women’s), and Biola University (men’s and women’s). The Lancers will face their first Pac-12 opponent of the season in San Diego State, who are the reigning Mountain West Conference champions.
Key California Baptist University swimmers expected to compete include juniors Sara Svorcan and Angelica Benitez, sophomore Anna Hassell, and freshmen Jade Bering, Emilie Bawono, and Faith Fasani. The Lancers are coming off a strong performance at a recent meet in Pomona, highlighted by multiple first-place finishes and pool records.
CSB Take
The inaugural Rick Rowland Joust is a meaningful tribute to a coach who profoundly shaped California Baptist University’s swimming and water polo legacy. Hosting this two-day event early in the season allows the women’s swim team to compete against a strong field including a Pac-12 opponent, setting a competitive tone for the year. This meet will serve as an important platform for emerging talent on the Lancers’ roster and helps build momentum toward future successes.
Source: Original report
More coverage: California Baptist Lancers.
