MINNEAPOLIS - The Rutgers Scarlet Knights made a splash at the Big Ten Championships on Wednesday night, diving into the action with determination and skill. The team took part in the 200 Medley Relay, 800 Freestyle Relay, and an exhibition diving event, showcasing their hard work and preparation.
Kicking off the evening was the 200 Medley Relay, where the Scarlet Knights clocked in at 1:39.36. The lineup of Goksu Dogan, Sofia Bartoloni, Anna Vlachou, and Emilianna Gonzalez pushed past their previous seed time of 1:39.81, set against Nebraska, to secure a 13th-place finish. It was a performance that highlighted their ability to rise to the occasion when it matters most.
Next up was the 800 Freestyle Relay, where the team swam a time of 7:24.57. This effort surpassed their seed time of 7:26.78, marking another strong showing. Ana Hazlehurst, Chiara Alberti, Casey Zentz, and Brooke Thompson took on this challenge, with Hazlehurst leading off with a 200 Free leg timed at 1:48.73-an impressive mark that ranks as the 10th fastest in Rutgers history.
In the exhibition team diving event, the trio of Amelia Scott, Madilyn Varnum, and Gianna Lawrence took center stage. Scott's opening dive was a standout, earning the top score of the round and setting a positive tone for the team.
By the end of the night, Rutgers had accumulated 54 team points from the first two events, setting a solid foundation for the rest of the championship. The Scarlet Knights are set to continue their quest on Thursday, with prelims kicking off at 11 a.m.
Eastern Time. They'll compete in the 100 Butterfly, 400 IM, 200 Freestyle, and 100 Breaststroke, along with the 1-Meter Diving, where trials begin at 1 p.m.
With this momentum, Rutgers is poised to make waves as the competition unfolds, and fans will be eager to see how they continue to perform.