Illinois Swimming has posted the regional and state time standards for the 2026 championship meets. The USA Swimming standards are posted as well. ILLINOIS SWIMMING STANDARDS AGE GROUP REGIONAL STANDARDS - REG ONLY AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIP STANDARDS - CHAMP ONLY WINTER SENIOR STANDARDS - REG & CHAMP SUMMER SENIOR STANDARDS - REG & CHAMP USA SWIMMING STANDARDS TOYOTA U.S. OPEN - DECEMBER 3-6, 2025 SPEEDO WINTER JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS - DECEMBER 10-13,2025 SPRING SPEEDO SECTIONALS - MARCH 12-15, 2026 SUMMER SPEEDO SECTIONALS - JULY 9-12, 2026 FUTURES CHAMPIONSHIPS - JULY 29-AUGUST...

Mental toughness. It’s something we always use to ascribe the top swimmers who surround us. They are the ones that are unflinching in the face of pressure in big moments. And they are the ones who are there at the end of practice, hammering down with full effort and full focus as other swimmers fall off the pace and intensity. It’s one of those traits that we imagine is innate and natural. And while some swimmers seem to come by it earlier and with ease, mental toughness is something we...

Congrats to the following CWAC high school swimmers that qualified for the IHSA state championship meet. They will compete November 14-15 at FMC - click here. Mariposa Arroyo – Saint Ignatius Joy Cheng – Whitney Young Liv Cremer – Saint Ignatius Sophia Chin - Whitney Young Kennedy Fitzgerald – Loyola Academy Kinsley Fitzgerald – Loyola Academy Margaret Hickey – Saint Ignatius Chayse Massimino – Saint Ignatius Briana Mingmuang – Whitney Young Delaney Mulcrone – Saint Ignatius Liepa Niaura – Saint Ignatius Franchesca Sanchez – Saint Ignatius Colleen Tracy – Saint...

Congrats to CWAC's Alexia Brockmann on her commitment to swim at Harvard University. Alexia is a member of the Class of 2027 so will be joining that fall. Click here for the list of CWAC swimmers who have gone on to swim in college. Way to go Alexia and Go Crimson!!

The dates for the 2026 long course championship meets have been set. Locations are still TBD Regionals - July 17-19 10&Under State - July 25-26 - Libertyville High School NCSA - July 22-26 - Indianapolis, Indiana Senior State - July 23-26 Age Group State - July 30 - August 2 - Hobart High School Hosted meets include CWAC May Madness - May 15-17 CWAC Summer Sizzle - July 10-11

How Much Sleep Do Swimmers Need? Swimmers push themselves hard in the pool. They try to make healthy life decisions when it comes hydration and nutrition. But where many begin to cut corners is on their sleep. Not getting enough sleep goes beyond just doing the occasional head-bob-and-jerk in class or in public. Or feeling a little groggy and yawning repeatedly while coach writes up a workout on the whiteboard. At the Stanford Sleep Disorders Clinic and Research Laboratory Cheri Mah has been tracking and studying the sleeping habits of...

Congrats to CWAC swimmer Franchesca Sanchez for committing to swim at Tulane University for the fall of 2026. Franny is the 5th member of the Class of 2026 to commit to swim in college - click here. Congrats and go Green Wave!!

For the sixth time in program history and for the fifth consecutive year CWAC has earned a silver medal in the USA Swimming Club Excellence Program as one of the 100 best teams in the country (#67). Now in its 26th year, the program recognizes USA Swimming member clubs for their commitment to athlete performance and excellence. The primary objectives of the program are to recognize and promote: The development of strong, well-rounded age group and senior swimming programs that produce elite 18-and-under athletes. Resources to motivate and assist USA...

Teen Athlete Nutrition Clinic Fuel more. Stress less. Perform better—without skipping pizza with friends. FREE CLINIC on Tueday, November 11 RSVP: https://forms.gle/uV1i1p1UHWbQ1gY39 Length: 60 minutes • Format: Interactive workshop + Q&A Who: Athletes ages 12–18 (parents welcome) What this clinic is (and isn’t) This is a simple game plan to help teens eat smarter for training and competition—without counting every crumb or saying no to social life. No guilt. No food police. Just smart adds that build stronger, faster, happier athletes. What we’ll cover (fast, practical wins) Power of Addition:...

What makes an athlete elite? I haven’t met an athlete yet that doesn’t want to be at the top of their game, the tip of the spear, the best of the best. So, how do you get there? There are many components to success in sport. We are all familiar with attributes like hard work, determination, commitment, dedication and focus. But what else could help take your performance to another level? The elite athlete is always seeking new ways to perfect and grow in sport and improve his/her performance. After...