The Bethel Park girls team dove headfirst into the 2025-26 swim season.
“I am very proud of the girls team,” coach Kathy Strock said. “We had a small team, but they showed up at every dual meet. Starting off with diving, we had 10 girl divers this season, and eight of them were new to diving.”
Four competed in the WPIAL Class 3A diving championships.
Sophomore Courtney Felicetti and junior Kenley Crawford finished 16th and 20th, respectively, while two of the team’s “new” divers, freshman Taylor Bruckner and sophomore Haylee Moore, placed 19th and 22nd.
“Our head diving coach, Megan Stearman, really develops divers and is unlike anyone else,” Strock said. “We have a young group of girl divers, and we’re only getting better.”
Turning to the swimming events, Bethel Park senior Julia Ratti achieved two personal-best times at the WPIAL championships.
Ratti placed 10th in the girls 200-yard freestyle with a 1:58.57 time and 17th in the 100 freestyle in 55.24
“Julia had a great season from start to finish,” Strock said. “She was one of the team captains, along with Chelsea Hudak, who led the team both in and out of the pool. They were there to provide advice when needed or to push the team to do their best, either at practice or at meets.”
Ratti, who will continue her career at Mount Union, is a versatile swimmer who qualified for the WPIAL finals in all of the freestyle races (50, 100, 200, 500) as well as the 100 backstroke.
“Julia comes to race every time she steps up on the blocks, and I can count on her to swim any event the team needs,” Strock said. “I’ve had the privilege of coaching Julia since she was little and watching her grow into the strong, determined individual that she is today.
“Although her career at Bethel Park has ended, I will always be her coach and cheer for her no matter where she is. I am so proud of her.”
Junior Morgan McKiernan also advanced to the WPIAL championships where she secured the 12th spot in the 500 free (5:20.57) and 16th place in the 200 free (2:01.26). McKiernan attained her best times in both events.
The Black Hawks’ 200 medley relay team, consisting of freshman Raelyn Walker, McKiernan, senior Karsyn Mitchell and Ratti, finished 16th, while the 200 free relay team, Ratti, Mitchell, senior Eleni Kretchun and McKiernan, placed 13th.
The girls 400 free relay unit — Walker, senior Chelsea Hudak, Kretchun and Mitchell — finished 20th.
“All three of our relays stepped up and advanced,” Strock said, “with great splits. Those girls really came together and swam their hearts out. Although our WPIAL girls team had only six swimmers, we placed 19th overall. Four of the six swimmers are seniors, so we will have big shoes to fill next year.
“The great thing about Bethel Park swimming is that the girls and boys teams train together, and most of them have been doing so since they were little. They are truly like a family. They push and support each other. I’ve been lucky to be a part of their journeys, watching them not only grow as athletes but also into wonderful human beings.”
Strock also took time to offer kudos to the Bethel Park coaching staffs.
“We have an awesome coaching staff,” she said. “We were so lucky to have head boys coach Mitch Schall join us this year. He is an awesome addition to our family, along with Megan Stearman and our two phenomenal assistant coaches, Lisa Serafin and Sally Hathaway.
“Sally was a Bethel Park varsity swimmer not so long ago. She has been integral, especially when a swimmer is struggling mentally. They are all part of why our team works so well together.”