McClain cruises to 1650 title Saturday

Slobodnyak voted women's coach of the year

2/21/2026 9:55:00 PM

GROVE CITY, Pa.--Junior Maddy McClain (Elizabeth, Pa., Elizabeth Forward) captured the title in the 1650 freestyle Saturday night to headline Westminster's women's swimming and diving performances at the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Swimming and Diving Championships.

Westminster finished in third place with 457 points. Grove City topped the nine-team championship field with 1153. Saint Vincent finished second with 606. Second-year head coach Todd Slobodnyak '12 was voted the PAC Women's Swimming Coach of the Year.

McClain's winning time of 17:59.23 was nearly 14 seconds better than the event's second-place finisher. McClain, the runner-up in the event in 2024 and 2025, entered with this year's No. 2 seed time. She is Westminster's first 1650 champion since Anne Tillie in 2017.

Junior Annabelle Turner (Butler, Pa., Butler) finished sixth in the championship final of the 200 butterfly (2:21.30). Freshman Nina Nappo (Columbiana, Ohio, Columbiana) was ninth, finishing first in the 'B' final (2:26.42). Freshman Brianna Reinhart (Pittsburgh, Pa., North Allegheny) was 10th (2:29.87), freshman Sophia Greene (Cabot, Pa., Knoch) was 13th (2:40.02) and sophomore Izzy Summers (Hubbard, Ohio, Hubbard) was 14th (2:40.11).

Freshman Olivia Schrock (Greensburg, Pa., Hempfield) finished seventh in the championship final of the 200 backstroke (2:19.57). Sophomore Avery O'Sullivan (Washington, Pa., Trinity) was 11th (2:25.42).

Freshman Rachel Rospierski (Erie, Pa., Fairview) was ninth in the 100 freestyle, touching first in the 'B' final with a time of 57.49. Sophomore Daphne Gindlesperger (McKean, Pa., General McLane) was 11th (58.72) while freshmen Madison Alessio (Elizabeth, Pa., Elizabeth Forward) and Emma Greene (Darlington, Pa., Blackhawk) were 14th (59.71) and 15th (59.91), respectively.

Freshman Sarah Vitale (Allison Park, Pa., Shaler) was 10th in the 200 breaststroke (2:51.15) after taking over 11 seconds off of her initial seed time (3:02.31).

Westminster 400 freestyle 'A' relay finished in third place (3:47.65). Relay members included Nappo, Rospierski, Reinhart and McClain. The 'B' relay, made up of Alessio, Turner, Emma Greene and Gindlesperger, was 12th (4:02.28).

Sophomore Emily Yurko (Boardman, Ohio, Boardman) was recognized as a member of the PAC's Sportsmanship Team at the conclusion of Saturday's finals. The PAC Sportsmanship Teams were established to recognize student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through demonstrated acts of sportsmanship and ethical behavior and are an ongoing effort to recognize and encourage positive sportsmanship among all PAC teams.

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