Last month, the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center (WKCAC) hosted the NCAA Women’s and Men’s Division 1 Swimming & Diving Championships, where hundreds of fans from across the country watched the very best student athletes compete. The event was hosted by the Seattle Sports Commission, Washington State University, and the City of Federal Way.
In the women’s championships, University of Virginia won their fifth consecutive championship with swimmer Gretchen Walsh setting an American record in the 100-yard butterfly and the NCAA record in the 100-yard freestyle.
The Texas Longhorns won the 2025 DI men’s swimming and diving national championships, the team’s second title in the last five years. On the final night of the men’s championships, three NCAA records were broken:
- 200-yard backstroke winner: Hubert Kos, Texas (1:34.21 – NCAA Record)
- 200-yard butterfly winner: Gianluca Urlando, Georgia (1:36.43 – NCAA Record)
- 400-yard freestyle relay winner: Tennessee (2:42:30 – NCAA Record)
“World class venues can be a deciding factor in the NCAA’s consideration when awarding competitive events like the Swimming and Diving Championships,” Seattle Sports Commission President Beth Knox said. “This venue continues to be a favorite amongst student athletes, and we were thrilled to welcome nearly 600 swimmers and divers to the King County Aquatic Center.”
The voter-approved King County Parks Levy helps support many improvements and proactive maintenance to this aquatic facility to help attract national events like the NCAA championships. King County staff resurfaced the deck with non-slip surfaces, updated HVAC and water heating systems, and replaced the lighting with a high performance, energy-efficient array capable of complying with ESPN’s broadcast needs.
From a child’s first swimming lessons in the family pool to NCAA champions and Olympic athletes competing in the Competition Natatorium, the WKCAC is an important facility for all levels of swimming both locally and for the nation. Caring for the facility makes it possible to keep hosting these activities for years to come.