Galt Gators Capture 2026 Motherlode Conference Championship

Jul 21, 2026 03:43PM ● By Paige Lampson, Sports Editor

Swimmers take a break under the iconic mushroom. File photo by Paige Lampson

GALT, CA (MPG) - The Galt Gators Swim Team stood atop the podium this weekend as the newly crowned 2026 Motherlode Conference Champions, capping off a season defined by relentless improvement, deep team spirit and a community that rallied together on short notice to make it all happen.

It was, by every measure, an exciting weekend of swimming. Gators young and old chased best times and found them again and again, and an unusually large number of team members punched their tickets to Finals, turning the meet into a showcase of just how far this program has come. By the time the final event wrapped up, the numbers told the story clearly: The Galt Gators finished with 1161.5 points, comfortably ahead of the Rollingwood Rockets at 965.5, the Sutter Lawn Tennis Club at 875.5 and the Dixon Dolphins at 686.5.

“What a season” doesn’t begin to cover it. From the youngest swimmers in the 6U division to the veterans competing in the 15/18 age group, Gators showed up ready to race, and the results reflected months of hard work in practice finally paying off on the biggest stage of the year.

Individual excellence was on full display as well, with Gator swimmers claiming High Point Awards across nearly every age group. Reese Peacock led the way with a first-place finish in the 6U Girls division, while Lucas Devalos took second in 6U Boys. In the 7/8 age group, Tenley Peacock earned third place among the girls and Cameron Nadarisay placed third among the boys.

Harrison Gerhard turned in a second-place performance in the 9/10 Boys division.

The 11/12 age group saw Elizabeth Sanchez take third among the girls and Morgan Stephenson take third among the boys, while the 13/14 division was a Gator stronghold: Rosa Hausauer claimed first place for the girls, with teammate Mackenzie Medina right behind her in second.

On the boys’ side, Maxx Thomlinson topped the field in first place, with Gabriel Westbrooks adding a third-place finish. Rounding out the honors, Lucy Thomlinson won first place in the 15/18 Girls division, and John Carey placed third in 15/18 Boys.

Behind every one of those swims was a team effort that extended far beyond the pool deck. Just a couple of weeks before the meet, Galt learned it would be hosting this year’s championship: a logistical challenge that would have overwhelmed most programs on such a compressed timeline. Instead, the Gator community stepped up. The parent advisory board and a wave of parent volunteers came together to pull off a flawless event, and the payoff was more than just a successful meet: Galt received nothing but high praise from visiting teams, coaches and officials for the quality of the hosting job.

The team also extended its thanks to the City of Galt for accommodating the event on such short notice, a gesture that made the entire weekend possible.

With the conference title secured, the celebration continues Thursday at the Gator Awards, where the team will gather to honor the swimmers, volunteers and families who made the 2026 season a championship one.

Congratulations to the 2026 Motherlode Conference Champions, Galt Gators!