Bisons Swim Teams Set Sights on Improvement, Speed and Podium Finishes

With a blend of veteran leadership, returning fifth-year swimmers and promising young talent, the University of Manitoba Bisons swimming teams enter the 2026-27 season focused on one central objective: getting better — and getting faster.
Head Coach Vlastik Cerny sees plenty of opportunity for growth on both the men's and women's sides, with an emphasis on technical development, training culture and performing under pressure.

Veteran Leadership Meets New Opportunity

The women's team will have to replace the leadership and performance of Ella Howe, who is taking her fifth year at the University of Calgary. Howe was an important contributor for the Bisons at the U SPORTS Championships, leaving a leadership gap that will need to be filled.

At the same time, the Bisons welcome back two veteran men who redshirted last season and are now entering their fifth and final years of eligibility. Team captain Andriy Usan and Rhade Kostelnyk bring valuable experience and competitive leadership to a group that includes several younger swimmers.

Women's captain Shea Guest also returns for her fifth year, providing another important veteran presence.

Several returning swimmers are expected to take on larger roles. Aryana Arquero and Annabel Kolman, both entering their second years of eligibility, have impressed Cerny with their off-season preparation. Kolman recorded personal-best times during the off-season, while Arquero has been training at a high level and enters the season with increased competitive maturity.

On the men's side, fourth-year Ty Unrau has moved his focus toward the sprint events, particularly the 50-metre races, while balancing his swimming development with his identification through the RBC Training Ground program and potential involvement in Canada's bobsled development pathway.

Building a Stronger Team Identity

For Cerny, the identity of the 2026-27 Bisons will be built around improvement in three areas: skill, training culture and competitiveness under pressure.

The coaching staff has made technical development a major focus during the off-season and pre-season. Approximately 40 per cent of swim practice has been adjusted toward skill development, with an emphasis on improving swimming economy and introducing new teaching techniques.

That work is designed to translate into better performances when the pressure increases.

"The team needs to be more technically skilled," Cerny said. "We adjusted training to address skill improvement, better economy of swimming and implemented new teaching techniques."

Experience, Racing Ability and Young Talent

Andriy Usan enters his final season determined to make the most of the opportunity. Cerny points to the fifth-year captain's commitment to balancing academics, athletics and his overall lifestyle as an important example for the group.

Tam Doan also enters the season with momentum after finishing last year strongly. Cerny describes Doan as a natural racer and expects him to take another step forward.

Arquero and Kolman are among the women expected to make significant contributions, while rookie Addison Bailey-Ross gives the men's team another intriguing young prospect. Bailey-Ross comes to Manitoba after winning gold in the 50-metre butterfly at the Canada Games and has set his sights on reaching the Canada West podium.

Another first-year swimmer to watch is Carson Pehura, a Portage la Prairie product and son of former Bison Rob Pehura. Cerny sees considerable potential in the rookie and is excited to see what he can accomplish in his first university season.

A Season Measured in Personal Bests

While championship podiums are part of the ambition, Cerny has established a simple benchmark for measuring the team's progress.

By the end of the 2026-27 season, he wants every swimmer to have recorded a personal best in their primary events, while also seeing the Bisons produce podium performances at both the Canada West and U SPORTS Championships.

Achieving those goals will require consistency in the pool and commitment outside it.

"Simply put, we need to be faster," Cerny said.

For the Bisons, the 2026-27 season will be about turning the technical improvements made in training into faster swims when it matters most — while developing a team culture capable of competing with confidence under championship pressure.