Before embarking on future in astronomy, physics at Stonehill, Rena Gilligan has goals to meet for Quaker Valley swimming

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, January 14, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Stonehill College is a private Catholic institution founded in 1948 and located in Easton, Mass.

It has an undergraduate enrollment in the 2,500 range, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 384 acres. The campus is located on the original estate of Frederick Lothrop Ames Jr., with 29 buildings that complement the original Georgian-style Ames mansion.

Stonehill is a member of the NCAA Division I Northeast Conference and the athletic teams are nicknamed the Skyhawks.

All of which drew the attention of Quaker Valley senior Rena Gilligan, who will continue her swimming career at Stonehill.

“I chose Stonehill for its exceptional coaching staff, team-oriented approach, and welcoming teammates,” Gilligan said. “I found it to feel a lot like a home, and I was drawn to its strong science academic program(s).”

Gilligan, a third-year varsity swimmer for QV who competed for a club program in 2022-23, plans to major in astronomy and physics in college. She has a 4.32 GPA and is National Honor Society member.

“There’s so many opportunities to study various and different phenomena in the astronomy and physics world,” she said. “In the future, I’m highly interested in studying black holes and dark matter.”

The 5-foot-8 Gilligan is one of the top athletes on the QV girls swim team. She has competed in a triathlon in the past.

QV coach Merci McCarthy is in her first season at the helm with the Quakers, so it is her first chance to watch Gilligan’s progress in the pool

“I have only been coaching Rena since the (2023-24) season started in November but I already see good leadership qualities in her as one of the team captains,” McCarthy said. “She has a great practice work ethic, which will help her prepare for college swimming.”

At QV, Gilligan specializes in the 100-yard breaststroke, 200 IM, 50 freestyle and, for relays, the 50 breast.

“I find Rena to be a very strong breastroker who will greatly help the team in the relays, especially the medley,” McCarthy said. ”My expectations for Rena are to rack up multiple (WPIAL) and MAC cuts and polish up the times she has in the events she wants to swim going into the championship season.”

Gilligan is gearing her efforts to doing well at the MAC championships to be held next month at Moon.

“At this point in the season, I have hit my target goals,” said Gilligan, 17. “I feel pretty good about the meets coming up, especially MAC championships.”

One of the QV girls’ immediate team goals for 2023-24 is to win another section title, followed by a strong showing at the WPIAL championships. The girls team has won four consecutive section crowns.

“Yes, it is definitely one of the girls’ team goals to win another section championship,” Gilligan said. “We’re highly committed this year, and I think we have a good chance to come out on top at WPIALs with our relays and individual events. The team energy is focused on building each other up, enjoying the sport, and using all of our collective talents to make the team the best it can be.

“I expect that we are going to place at WPIALs and states. I think our 200 medley relay is our strongest event for medaling at states. We have a legacy of success over the years, and I’m looking forward to this being an exciting season.”

Other leading swimmers for QV’s girls team include senior North Carolina Wilmington commit Emily Connors, who stars in the 50 free, 100 free and 100 fly; junior distance specialist Margaret Getty, a two-time WPIAL and PIAA qualifier; sophomore Alexa Westwood (200 IM, back); senior Mia Hrabovsky; and freshman Lydia Kilpela. Getty was a WPIAL triple medalist last season.

Both the girls and boys teams at QV were 2-2 after four meets, with wins against South Fayette and Beaver Falls.

“The girls team has been a strong force so far this season,” Gilligan said. “We had outstanding drive against some bigger 3A schools. And overall I’m seeing a lot of significant time drops from everyone. It’s great to see this success early in the season for the team as a whole.”

QV’s boys team has only seven swimmers and is led by the likes of juniors Thomas Fuener (100 fly, 200 free), Ryan Steinfurth (back) and Aidan Hifri (breast), and sophomores Marcus Zhan (distance) and Austin Young (freestyle). Fuener, Steinfurth, Hifri and Zhan also are 200 medley relayers.

“The boys team is small in number but mighty,” Gilligan said. “They are doing really well this year, and they aren’t lacking in any areas in terms of stroke. I think they have a high chance of medaling at WPIALs as well as making it to states.”

Tags: Quaker Valley