The Scarlet swim & diving team (S&D) hosted the an invitational at the Rutgers Aquatic Center on Friday and Saturday to open its 2026-27 season. The non-team scoring event saw Army, St. Bonaventure, Northeastern, Boston College and Fordham in competition along with the Knights.
The team is one of the youngest that head coach Jon Maccol has had since he took over the program in 2017. “This team has the greatest amount of talent that we’ve ever been able to collect. The level of focus, things are just
a bit different this year. It’s the youngest team we’ve ever had since I’ve been here, but at the same time, it’s also the most mature. And that is a credit to the recruiting and the high level of selectiveness we have when going through that process.
Two Scarlet athletes were named to pre-season “watch” lists. Anna Vlachou was named a Big Ten Preseason Swimmer to Watch. She set school records in the 100 Freestyle and 100 Butterfly, making the A Final at Big Ten Championships in the 100 Butterfly.
Katerina Hoffman was named a Big Ten Preseason Diver to Watch. Hoffman was one of three divers RU sent to NCAA Championships and was named a Second Team All-American on the 3-Meter. Hoffman is one of four captains for the Scarlet Knights. She will be joined by Chiara Alberti, Ana Hazlehurst and Ellie Schinsky. Ana Hazlehurst made three finals at the Big Ten Championships and saw her 200 and 400 IM times both be among the top-3 fastest in school history.
Friday competition
The Knights competed in five swimming events and on the 1M diving board. The Scarlet Knights had five first place finishes and 12 top-three finishes. The high-level talent among their youth was immediately on display as six total freshmen contributed to top-three finishes, including four true freshmen attending their first collegiate meet as Scarlet Knights.
200 Freestyle Relay (Pool Record)
- Lena Bauer, Emillianna Gonzalez, Anna Vlachou and Journei Webster – 1:30.34
500 Freestyle
- Grace Sorensen – 4:55.77
- Florence Robitaille – 4:56.03
- IM
- Ana Hazlehurst – 2:02.67
50 Free
- Emilianna Gonzalez – 22.47
- Anna Vlachou – 22.61
- Journei Webster – 23.37
400 Medley Relay
- Valentina Giannini, Sofia Bartoloni, Anna Vlachou, Journei Webster – 3:40.27
3. Florence Robitaille, Holland Spangler, Grace Sorensen, Emilianna Gonzalez – 3:46.75
1 Meter Diving
- Bailee Sturgill – 326.90
- Katerina Hoffman – 309.80
- Madilyn Varnum – 308.60
Saturday competition
Rutgers had nine first place finishes, 16 total top-three finishes and had three new top-10 marks in program history. Overall, Rutgers had 14 first place finishes and 28 top-three finishes over two days of competition.
the Scarlet started off the Saturday morning session with a win by Ana Hazlehurst in the 400 IM, as she touched the wall nearly seven seconds faster than second place. Sofia Bartoloni captured the event title in the 100 Breaststroke. She touched the wall in 1:03.21.
Rutgers had another relay victory to cap the morning. Freshmen Journei Webster and Madelyn Cassidy joined Emilianna Gonzalez and Anna Vlachou to swim a 3:22.25 to place first by over four second.
Anna Vlachou placed second in the 100 Fly, with freshman Grace Sorensen finishing fourth in the race. Florence Robitaille had a third-place finish in the 100 Backstroke.
Newcomers continued to stand out. The evening session opened with the 1000 Free, with freshman Grace Sorensen placing third. RU then had five more first place swims. Freshman Florence Robitaille captured the 200 Back title in 1:58.29, with first-year competitor Valentina Giannini placing third. Two returners went 1-2 in the 100 Free, with school record holder Anna Vlachou placing first in 48.87 and Emillianna Gonzalez finishing second in 49.88, the seventh best time in school history.
“These are women that have swam in a lot of high-level meets and medaled and finaled there”, said head coach Maccol. “And the vast majority of them are under 20 years old. It’s a talent level and mixed with maturity and focus and understanding of what we’re trying to do here, that’s an exciting thing for the program.”
RU is back in action next weekend as it hits the road to Lynchburg, Va. to face Liberty and James Madison on Friday and Saturday in a tri-meet.
Saturday Events – Top Three Finishers
400 IM
- Ana Hazlehurst: 4:23.76
100 Fly
- Anna Vlachou: 53.52
100 Breast
- Sofia Bartoloni – 1:03.21
100 Back
3. Florence Robitaille – 55.60
400 Free Relay
- Rutgers A (Journei Webster, Madelyn Cassidy, Emilianna Gonzalez, Anna Vlachou) – 3:22.35
1000 Free
3. Grace Sorensen – 10:18.50
200 Back
- Florence Robitaille – 1:58.29
3. Valentina Giannini – 2:01.42
100 Free
- Anna Vlachou – 48.87
- Emilianna Gonzalez – 49.88
200 Breast
- Sofia Bartoloni – 2:15.73
200 Butterfly
- Grace Sorensen – 2:02.60
3. Ellie Schinsky – 2:03.52
200 Medley Relay
- Rutgers A (Valentina Giannini, Sofia Bartoloni, Anna Vlachou, Emilianna Gonzalez) – 1:41.25
1 Meter Dive
- Katerina Hoffman – 311.60
- Bailee Sturgill – 297.80
- Gianna Lawrence – 271.40
