Women’s Swimming Set For Western Pennsylvania Invitational

Women’s Swimming | 1/22/2026 10:00:00 AM

January 23 and 24 | Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA | Jared L. Cohon University Center

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

The Saint Francis Red Flash girls’s swimming workforce will journey to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this weekend to compete within the Western PA Invitational. The two-day meet will happen on Friday and Saturday on the Jared L. Cohon University Center, serving because the Red Flash’s closing competitors earlier than the NEC Championships.

OPPONENTS AT A GLANCE:

The Western PA Invitational will as soon as once more function a deep regional area, together with a number of acquainted applications from final season. Duquesne Dukes return after posting a number of high finishes a 12 months in the past, whereas Carnegie Mellon Tartans convey depth throughout relays and particular person occasions.

The area additionally contains Grove City Wolverines, Saint Vincent Bearcats, and Chatham Cougars, all of whom contributed a number of entries and aggressive finishes all through final 12 months’s meet.

Returning to the invitational this season, the Pittsburgh Panthers will be part of the sphere, including a Power Five presence and elevating the extent of competitors for the Red Flash as they put together for postseason racing.

BACK IN THE POOL: LAST YEAR AT WESTERN PA:

At final season’s Western PA Invitational, the Saint Francis Red Flash turned in a robust, well-rounded efficiency throughout each days of competitors. The Red Flash opened the meet with a third-place end within the 200-yard freestyle relay, because the A relay of Sara Turner, Katie Webster, Taylor Weth, and Anna Bernasconi posted a time of 1:39.09, setting an early tone in opposition to a deep area.

Saint Francis continued to make an influence in particular person occasions, highlighted by a number of top-five finishes all through the weekend. Sara Turner delivered constant outcomes throughout freestyle and particular person medley occasions, whereas Reegan Brown earned a top-five end within the 200-yard particular person medley. In distance races, the Red Flash confirmed depth with a number of swimmers putting inside the highest group of the 500-yard freestyle, gaining priceless factors and expertise.

The momentum carried into Saturday, the place Saint Francis closed the meet strongly. The Red Flash captured first place within the 200-yard medley relay, with the A relay ending atop the sphere, whereas the B relay added a third-place outcome. Additional top-five finishes got here in freestyle occasions from Kathryn Tanis, Maura Rubio, and Morgan Moniz, because the workforce showcased stability throughout dash and middle-distance races.

PREVIOUS ACTION:

Saint Francis final competed at a tri-meet in opposition to Howard University and Virginia Military Institute on January 16 in Lexington, Virginia. The Red Flash opened the meet with sturdy relay efforts and continued to race persistently throughout all occasions all through the afternoon. Saint Francis used the meet as an necessary late-season alternative to achieve race expertise, take a look at lineups, and construct momentum because the workforce continued preparations for postseason competitors.

UP NEXT:

After the Western PA Invitational, the Red Flash might be off from competitors till the NEC Championships in late February. The invitational marks the workforce’s closing meet of the common season and its final competitors as a member of the NEC Conference. 

COACHING THE FLASH:

Head coach Phil Hurley enters his sixth season main the Red Flash, bringing greater than 15 years of collegiate teaching expertise to this system. Under Hurley’s path, Saint Francis has persistently produced NEC podium finishes, sturdy performances at invitational meets, and sustained educational success, reflecting a balanced strategy to aggressive and private improvement.

Working alongside Hurley is assistant coach Carrie Robinson, who’s in her first season with the Red Flash. Robinson joined Saint Francis following a profitable two-year tenure at St. Lawrence University, the place she helped information swimmers to personal-best performances, convention finalist finishes, and program information. A former collegiate swimmer and workforce captain at Hiram College, she provides priceless expertise throughout a number of strokes to Hurley’s employees.