The University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Ragin’ Cajuns Water Ski Team won its seventh consecutive Division I national championship, bringing its total to 13 titles.
The team claimed the title at the Syndicate 2026 National Collegiate Water Ski Association National Championships, held Oct. 15-17 in Rio Linda, California.
The Ragin’ Cajuns also won national championships in 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2015, 2010, 2005, 2003, 1997 and 1995. The championship was canceled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The team has won more national championships than any other team in school history. Water skiing is a club sport at UL Lafayette, not an NCAA-sanctioned sport.
“The seven consecutive titles represent the longest championship streak in the NCWSA since UL Lafayette joined the association in 1988, and this year’s win caps another undefeated season that stretches back to 2019,” head coach Ryan Gonzales said.
Teams qualify for the national championships, which began in 1979, based on their performances in tournaments leading up to the event. The competition features six events — women’s and men’s slalom, tricks and jump — as well as individual national titles in each event and overall women’s and men’s championships.
Alana Jones won the national championship in women’s slalom. Jones, who is from Lafayette, has deep family ties to the university’s water ski program. Her grandfather, Jim Davidson, founded the team. Her parents, Scot and Lynda Jones, competed for the Ragin’ Cajuns before marrying and later coaching the team.
Megan Pelkey finished second in women’s overall and third in women’s tricks. Katharina Hafner placed third in women’s jump.
In the men’s competition, BG Bickley finished second in jump and third in overall. Alexander Gschiel placed third in jump, and Florian Parth finished fifth. Vincent Ahammer placed fourth in men’s tricks, followed by Jack Silver in fifth. Gschiel and Parth tied for fourth in men’s slalom.
“This win was a true team effort and a testament to the hard work and dedication of each student-athlete,” assistant coach Harry Spavin said. “Every year brings its own challenges, and the team did a great job of coming together and rising to the occasion. It’s very rewarding seeing their work pay off and bring another national title back to Lafayette.”
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