Meghan Tiernan, a 2023 graduate of West Hartford’s Hall High School, is preparing for her senior year as a student-athlete at Villanova University.

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Meghan Tiernan was one of several Hall swimmers who set new school records and was named All-State at the CIAC Class L championships on Nov. 15, 2022. Courtesy photo (we-ha.com file photo)

By Paul Palmer

Meghan Tiernan has spent most of her life in the water. The former Hall swimmer has found success at every level and will be heading into her senior season at Villanova University this fall.

“It has been an amazing three years,” she said. “I’m excited and sad for senior year.”

She is coming  off her most prolific season with the Wildcats, having earned gold in the Big East Championship in the 200 IM, as well as a silver in the 400 IM and 200 Fly. Tiernan set a personal best time of 1:59:54 in winning her gold. In the 2024-25 Big East Championship she took bronze in two events and as a freshman the season before, she earned bronze in the 400 IM.

Tiernan won three individual medals at the Big East Championship. Photo credit: Simone Amaduzzi

Tiernan is a six-time All-Big East Performer and is in the top 10 of Villanova swimming in the 200 Fly (1:58.48), 100 IM (58.26), 200 IM (1:59.54), and 400 IM (4:16.01).

The rising senior followed older sisters, Tara and Kelly, into club, high school, and Division I swimming. In addition to her time at Hall, Tiernan swam for the Cheshire Sea Dogs club – winning the 200 IM and 1500 Free at the CT Senior Championships in 2023. In 2022 she was tops in the CT Long Course Swim Championships in the 400 IM, and in 2022 won the Class L and State Championship in the 500 Free.

When it came time to look at colleges, she had a plan. “From the get-go during recruitment I had a strict list of criteria and Villanova filled all of it,” said the 21-year-old. “It just clicked. I felt it was the perfect location for me, a great school with the spirit of big school.”

It also meant working out a schedule that allowed her to adjust to the rigors of D1 sports and Big East academics. “Because I  trained with Cheshire, I was used to a time crunch. Here there are a bunch of other similar majors with me and being surrounded by these hard-working people makes it easy to get things done when everyone around you is doing it to,” said the biochemistry major.

Meghan Tiernan in August 2023. Courtesy photo (we-ha.com file photo)

Training with a Division I swim program was a little different for Tiernan, and something she had to adjust to. “The hardest part was adjusting to 20 hours of intense training a week at college. When I got here I had never lifted weights before. My body was feeling beat down but at the same time you are at meets and you want to contribute,” Tiernan said.

But with the support of her coaches and teammates, and her own work ethic, she pushed through. “I would feel so tired and sore because in high school it was just the big meet that we trained hard for,” Tiernan said. She has managed to find that balance in the classroom and in the pool, having made the Big East All-Academic Team and the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll.

On the precipice of her final college season, she said she is grateful for all that swimming has given her, especially the lessons that carry over from sports to life. “Swimming is a mental sport and there are a lot of barriers you have to overcome. It is all on you. There is no one coming to help you when you dive in the water.” Tiernan said. “You learn to battle your nerves and negative thoughts.”

Meghan Tiernan (right) celebrates with a teammate. Photo credit: Simone Amaduzzi

Tiernan is also grateful for the friendships she has made at Villanova and in swimming. “I have met my best friends through swimming. I couldn’t be more grateful for the friendships I have formed through swimming,” she said. Heading into that final season she said she would like to set some new best times as well as win a fourth Big East Title with the team. She also wants to take the time to enjoy the last ride and perhaps be there for a program first.

“As a team – if we can send one person to NCAAs – we are working on that and would love to have that happen regardless of who it is,” she said.

After graduation she wants to take a year before heading off to medical school. This summer she is working on her swimming, but also enjoying an internship in the medical field.

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