PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers swimming and diving is back in action this weekend at the Rutgers Aquatics Center. The Scarlet Knights host a two-day meet, welcoming Miami and Arkansas. On Friday, action starts at 5 p.m., and then resumes again at 11 a.m. on Saturday morning.

Live stats will be available via meet mobile. There will be a live stream available for Saturday on B1G+.

About Rutgers

Rutgers diving is ranked as the No. 6 program nationally in the inaugural PDCA Top 25 rankings. The meet will feature three of the top-20 women's diving programs in the rankings, with Miami ranked No. 2 and Arkansas ranked No. 20. In the PDCA Diving Power rankings early in the season, Rutgers currently stands atop the rankings in both the 1M and 3M dual meet rankings.

Sophomore diver Bailee Sturgill enters the season on the Big Ten's Preseason Watch List after being named Big Ten All-Freshman and an NCAA Qualifier on the 1M, 3M and Platform. Sturgill was crowned the NCAA Zone A platform champion.

Sophomore diver Katerina Hoffman also excelled in her debut season as a freshman, earning marks on Rutgers' Top Ten in the 3M (third), 1M (sixth) and platform (eighth). An NCAA qualifier on all three boards, she was the NCAA Zone A champion on 3M and a Big Ten Consolation finalist on 3M and 1M.

"(Our diving ranking) is a testament to (Rutgers diving coach) Natasha Chikina and all the hard work the divers are doing," head coach Jon Maccoll said. "That's pretty amazing to think about, because we are also so young, we should be a top-10 program for a while, which is amazing for myself and the program. We probably have four of the top-100 divers in the world and that's really exciting. We are better positioned to do well that we ever have before. The diving program is healthy and strong and we want to continue to support that, and we are receiving a great return on our investment."

In the pool, Rutgers won 13 swimming events (including two relays) in the season-opening meet, as Rutgers defeated St. Bonaventure (211.5-87.5) and Fordham (218-81).

Newcomer Ana Hazlehurst, who was named the team's Big Ten Swimmer to Watch won the 200 yard freestyle in 1:52.21, finishing first by more than two seconds. She also won the 400 Yard IM, finishing in 4:26.46. Sofia Bartoloni won two events, taking the 100 yard and 200 yard breastroke. Ellie Schinsky also finished first in two races, touching the wall first in the 100 and 200 yard butterfly. Freshman Emilliana Gonzalez had the top two scoring times in the meet as she won the 50-yard freestyle and had the top split in the 200 yard freestyle relay.

Rutgers brought in 11 newcomers overall to the roster this year, with four transfers and seven freshmen. The newest Scarlet Knight freshmen are Goksu Dogan, Emilianna Gonzalez, Giana Lawrence, Elayna Ling, Tayla Smith, Emily Volchansky and Casey Zentz. RU also welcomes transfers Chiara Alberti (Georgia Southern), Angelica Bath (University of Toronto), Ana Hazlehurst (Indiana) and Anna Vlachou (Nebraska). Rutgers brings in one diver (Lawrence) and 10 swimmers.

Thoughts from Coach Maccoll

Rutgers head coach Jon Maccoll spoke with host Dom Savino in the annual preseason preview podcast. In the episode of the Inside Rutgers Athletics Podcast presented by RWJBarnabas Health, he laid out some overall thoughts on the team and excitement for the season.

"This is probably the most talented roster we've had on paper since I've been here," Maccoll explained. "This team is poised to make a jump and I encourage people to come out to see our meets and see Olympic level swimming and diving."

About Miami

Under head coach Andy Kershaw, the Hurricanes had one of their best seasons in program history last year. UM posted a top-15 finish nationally in 2024-25, finishing No. 13 in total points at the NCAA Championships and recording their most swimming points since 2012. Diver Chiara Pellacani won a national championship on the 1-meter.

As an overall swimming and diving program, Miami is receiving votes in the preseason CSCAA poll. They received nine votes, placing them 29^th nationally. Miami is also No. 2 in the PDCA diving rankings.

This will be the second time in the water for Miami, after opening its season with a two-day Eagle Invitational hosted by FGCU. The swimmers captured three relay events in freestyle, while the divers did not compete.

About Arkansas

Under head coaches Neil Harper and Abel Sanchez, Arkansas will be in their fourth competition of the season as the Razorbacks head to Piscataway. The Hogs opened the year at the All-Arkansas invite, finishing first on September 20. They also competed at Drury, winning 185.50-56.50, and hosted SEC foe South Carolina, falling 182-118.

Diver Maria Jose-Sanchez excelled as a freshman last season, as she was named to the All-SEC Second Team and All-Freshman team. She was an All-American on the 3-meter. Arkansas is the No. 20 diving team in the PDCA rankings.