Women's Swimming & Diving Picked Fifth in PAC Poll, Five Named to Watchlist

PAC Release

TRAFFORD, Pa. -- The Allegheny College women's swimming and diving team finished fifth in the 2026-27 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) coaches' poll and placed five on the conference's preseason watchlist.

Coaches from across the PAC voted the Gators fifth out of nine teams. Allegheny earned 40 points, just six shy of fourth-place Washington and Jefferson College (46). The Blue and Gold held a seven-point lead over Chatham University (33) in sixth.

Four of the five Allegheny swimmers the conference identified as swimmers and divers to watch were returning All-PAC honorees. Headlining the group is sophomore Grace Melocchi (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler), who was named to the All-PAC Second Team in her debut season. Melocchi earned two top-five finishes in the "A" finals of the 200-yard breaststroke and 400-yard individual medley.

Juniors Emily Arendas (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin), Magnolia Myers (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/Our Lady of the Elms), and Kerrigan Swartz (Brookville, Pa./Brookville Area) also received preseason recognition after collecting All-PAC Honorable Mention accolades in 2025-26. First-year Ellen Shaffer (Williamstown, N.J./Gloucester County Institute of Technology) rounded out the Allegheny quintet.

Allegheny's season begins on Saturday, October 11, with a home meet at Mellon Pool against Hiram College at 1 p.m.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Emily Arendas: Breaststroke / Sprint Free; 5' 9"; Junior

Grace Melocchi: Breaststroke / IM / Mid-Distance; 5' 4"; Sophomore

Magnolia Myers: Fly / Mid-Distance / Sprint Free; 5' 0"; Junior

Kerrigan Swartz: Breaststroke / Sprint Free; 5' 10"; Junior

Ellen Shaffer: Back / Sprint Free; 5' 4"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Emily Arendas
: 5' 9"; Junior
: Breaststroke / Sprint Free

Grace Melocchi
: 5' 4"; Sophomore
: Breaststroke / IM / Mid-Distance

Magnolia Myers
: 5' 0"; Junior
: Fly / Mid-Distance / Sprint Free

Kerrigan Swartz
: 5' 10"; Junior
: Breaststroke / Sprint Free

Ellen Shaffer
: 5' 4"; Freshman
: Back / Sprint Free