The 2026 CIAC girls swimming and diving season officially kicks off on September 8, and let me tell you, there’s a seismic class shift brewing that’s gonna shake things up like never before. Forget everything you thought you knew about the championship landscape. The biggest beasts in the pool are about to go head-to-head, and it’s gonna be epic.
The Ultimate LL Showdown Is Here
Greenwich is coming off a monster 2025, ripping through Class LL and taking home the State Open championship, their **22nd** in program history! Yeah, you read that right, twenty-two! They were absolutely on fire, reclaiming their spot at the top. But here’s the kicker: that dominant performance came right after Ridgefield had snagged their own Class L and State Open titles back in 2024. Talk about a couple of powerhouses on a collision course, right? Well, get ready, because this November, Greenwich and Ridgefield are officially going head-to-head in Class LL. This isn’t just a rivalry, folks. This is a clash of titans, and it’s gonna be must-watch. Who comes out on top when these two juggernauts finally meet in the biggest class?
New Contenders, Broken Streaks, And Unstoppable Dominance
The ripple effects of this class shift are huge. Ridgefield moving up leaves a massive void in Class L, where they’d been battling New Canaan for first and second for the past two seasons. New Canaan is still in Class L, and you know they’re hungry. Plus, keep an eye on the other Rams from Cheshire, who are itching to get back to the top. Darien also lurks in Class L, ready to make some noise. And don’t sleep on Wethersfield, who just moved up to Class L a year after winning their first championship. Talk about stepping up to the plate!
Over in Class M, Pomperaug is out for blood. They were runner-up by a mere 13 points to Wethersfield last season, a loss that snapped a legendary three-straight championship streak. You know they’re coming back with a vengeance, looking to reclaim that pedestal. Brookfield, East Lyme, and Guilford are still holding strong in Class M, making that a tough battleground. And then there’s Class S. As usual, Weston is the team to beat. Why? Because they’ve won the last **12** championships in the class! That’s not a streak, that’s a dynasty. But Sheehan, the 2025 Class S runner-up, is back with a multitude of returning athletes. Can anyone finally challenge Weston’s reign? We’re about to find out.
Championship November Awaits
All this early season action is just setting the stage for an absolutely wild November. The postseason diving championships kick off on Wednesday, November 11, with Class M and Class LL at Middletown and Plainville, respectively. Class L dives on Thursday, November 12, at Middletown, and Class S on Friday, November 13, at Plainville. Then it’s time for the swimming championships, starting Tuesday, November 17, at Cornerstone. Class M and Class LL go that day, followed by Class S and Class L on Wednesday, November 18. Everything culminates with the State Open diving on Thursday, November 19, in Middletown, and the big one, the State Open swimming, on Sunday, November 22, at Yale. Mark your calendars, because this fall is gonna be one for the record books!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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