Bucknell Women's Swimming & Diving Finishes Close Fourth at Patriot League Championships

Bison post strong results on opening night, sit just 10 points behind third place

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The Bucknell women's swimming and diving team had a solid opening night at the Patriot League Championships, finishing in fourth place and just 10 points behind third-place Boston University. Highlights included a fourth-place finish by Kelly Byrne in the 500-yard freestyle and a fifth-place showing by freshman Tori Castro in the 50-yard freestyle, the second-fastest time in school history.

Why it matters

The Patriot League Championships are the culmination of the women's swimming and diving season, and a strong performance can set the tone for the program's future success. Bucknell's close fourth-place finish shows the team's depth and potential to challenge for a podium spot in the coming years.

The details

Byrne finished just 0.54 seconds off the podium in the 500 free, while Castro's time of 23.16 in the 50 free moved her to second on Bucknell's all-time list. The Bison also had strong showings in the 200 individual medley and 1-meter diving, with multiple athletes scoring points for the team.

  • The Patriot League Championships are taking place February 19-22, 2026 in Annapolis, Maryland.

The players

Kelly Byrne

A Bucknell swimmer who finished fourth in the 500-yard freestyle, just 0.54 seconds off the podium.

Tori Castro

A freshman swimmer at Bucknell who posted the second-fastest 50-yard freestyle time in school history, finishing fifth in the event.

Bucknell Women's Swimming & Diving

The Bucknell women's swimming and diving team, which currently sits in fourth place at the Patriot League Championships, just 10 points behind third-place Boston University.

Navy

The host school for the 2026 Patriot League Championships, where the Bucknell women's team is competing.

Molly Webber

A swimmer for Army who became the first in Patriot League history to win the 500-yard freestyle event four straight times.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The Patriot League Championships will continue on Friday, February 20, 2026, with prelims starting at 10 a.m. and finals at 6 p.m. Bucknell will look to build on its strong opening night and challenge for a podium finish.

The takeaway

Bucknell's women's swimming and diving team showed its depth and potential on the opening night of the Patriot League Championships, finishing just 10 points behind third place and setting the stage for a strong finish to the season.