Emily Connors Set to Join UNC Wilmington Seahawks Swim Team in 2024

Photo courtesy of Quaker Valley School District.

One of the WPIAL’s top swimmers in Emily Connors recently signed her national letter of intent to swim at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Wilmington. A native of Sewickley, she is a senior for the Quaker Valley Quakers swimming and diving program. In her three-plus year varsity swimming career, she’s become a three-time WPIAL and state qualifier. She’s added ‌12 WPIAL medals and 10 state medals so far in her high school career. In the 2022-23 season, Connors finished fourth in the PIAA Swimming and Diving Championships in the 100-yard butterfly and sixth in the 100-yard freestyle. At the time of this article, Connors is a top 25 swimmer in the state of Pennsylvania according to SwimCloud. The Allegheny County product is a six-year veteran of Steel City Aquatics and the organization and her teammates from this club team have become some of her closest friends in life. “The atmosphere is really fun and encouraging. Even when practices get to be really challenging, the teammates I have make it worth it.” Connors was interested in UNC Wilmington specifically because of their welcoming coaching staff, the rise of this program in recent years, and because the institution features a highly regarded marine biology program. She is especially interested in marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation and looks forward to learning more about this potential route within her chosen major in the coming years. The Seahawks women’s swimming and diving team won the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) title last season and featured perhaps their best team in over a decade last season. Connors is used to being a winner both individually as well as on her relay teams. Even if it came in her freshman year, her WPIAL titles in the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays remain as some of her top moments so far in her swimming career. Two of the defining moments in her career as of late was dropping two seconds in both the 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly at the same WPIAL championships meet in her sophomore season. “It was just a really great feeling that I will never forget and it was a big turning point for me. It was the first time I went on to the podium in both my individual and relay events at states.” With much of her senior season still left to unfold, Connors is hopeful to finish her already historic high school career on a high note. With already 12 WPIAL and 10 state medals, she can already feel a perfect balance of accomplished and driven to see what else she can do with the Quakers before heading to North Carolina to begin her college career. Best of luck as you continue senior year, Emily!