Pioneers Finish Fourth as Records and Awards Highlight Final Day at MAAC Championships

Saturday, February 14

Geneva, OH

Trials Finals 9:30 am / 5:30 pm

Sacred Heart University Department of Athletics

MAAC Championships

Photo by: Stockton Photos

Pioneers Finish Fourth as Records and Awards Highlight Final Day at MAAC Championships

2/14/2026 11:00:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving

Velleco captures 200 fly title, Mahoney and Yadao sweep top diving honors, and 400 free relay closes meet with school record

By: Nikolas Lassonde

GENEVA, OH — The Sacred Heart University women's swimming and diving team closed out the final day of the MAAC Championships with a championship performance, major awards in diving, multiple school records, and a strong fourth-place finish.

The two Sacred Heart star divers earned top conference honors, as Ryleigh Mahoney was named Women's Rookie Diver of the Meet and Sinclair Yadao was recognized as the Women's Most Outstanding Diver of the Meet.

In the grueling 1650 freestyle, Charlotte Kaduson led the Pioneers with a sixth-place finish in 17:24.84. Laura DeGennaro placed 21st in 18:15.11, followed by Maeve English in 23rd (18:18.80) and Jane Gerbracht in 26th (18:32.82), adding distance points to the team total.

Kaitlyn Schwartz finished 15th in the B final of the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:06.35, while Julia Fanning placed 23rd in 2:09.72.

In the 100 freestyle, Emma Davis earned a 10th-place finish in the B final with a time of 52.14, and Emma Haas added a C final swim of 53.62.

The 200 backstroke saw strong depth from the Pioneers. Maddie Goret placed seventh in the A final (2:20.23), Maggie Holland finished 12th in the B final (2:23.76), and Meredith Lubelczyk took 23rd in the C final (2:27.76), with Daniella Palamaro also competing in the C final.

Sophia Velleco delivered a championship performance in the 200 butterfly, winning the event with a school-record time of 2:02.03. Abby Hernandez placed 11th in the B final (2:07.46), while Makayla Lee finished 18th in the C final (2:10.05), giving Sacred Heart valuable points in the event.

The Pioneers capped the meet with a fifth-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay, as Emma Davis, Emma Haas, Sophia Velleco, and Maggie Holland combined for a school-record time of 3:28.09 to close the championships on a high note.

After four days of competition in Geneva, Sacred Heart secured a fourth-place team finish, concluding a championship meet defined by record-breaking events and conference honors.