Rutgers swimming and diving wasted no time making a statement to open the 2026-27 season.
On Friday night at the Rutgers Aquatics Center, the Scarlet Knights put together a sharp first day at the Rutgers Invitational, collecting five first-place finishes and 12 top-three results across five swimming events and the 1M diving board.
The freshman class was a major part of the surge. Six freshmen helped Rutgers into top-three finishes, and four true freshmen were competing in their first collegiate meet. That youth showed up right away, but so did the speed.
The biggest splash came in the opening event, where Rutgers set the pool record in the 200 Freestyle Relay. Lena Bauer, Emillianna Gonzalez, Anna Vlachou and Journei Webster combined for a 1:30.34, narrowly missing the previous school record of 1:30.33 set in 2020.
Rutgers kept the momentum rolling in the 500 Freestyle, where two freshmen landed on the podium in their debut meet. Grace Sorensen finished second in 4:55.77, and Florence Robitaille was right behind her in third at 4:56.03.
Ana Hazlehurst added another victory for the Scarlet Knights in the 200 IM, winning in 2:02.67.
Then came a Rutgers sweep in the 50 Free. Emilianna Gonzalez took first in 22.47, Anna Vlachou followed in 22.61, and Journei Webster rounded out the top three in 23.37.
The night wrapped with the 400 Medley Relay, and Rutgers closed it in style. Valentina Giannini, Sofia Bartoloni, Anna Vlachou and Journei Webster won by five seconds, finishing in 3:40.27. Another Scarlet Knight quartet - Florence Robitaille, Holland Spangler, Grace Sorensen and Emillianna Gonzalez - placed third in 3:46.75.
Rutgers was just as strong on the diving side. All four Scarlet Knight competitors finished in the top five on the 1-meter board.
Bailee Sturgill won the event with a score of 326.90, Katerina Hoffman took second at 309.80, and Madilyn Varnum finished third with a 308.60. That score moved Varnum into the program’s all-time top 10, where she now sits eighth.
Gianna Lawrence added a fifth-place finish.
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