Friday, October 9
Piscataway, N.J.
5:00 PM
Rutgers
vs
Rutgers Preseason Invitational
Photo by: Bianca Borja
Swimming and Diving Excels on Day 1 of Rutgers Invitational
Oct 09 | Women's Swimming & Diving
PISCATAWAY, N.J. ā Rutgers swimming and diving opened the 2026-27 season on Friday night at the Rutgers Aquatics Center with a strong performance on the first day of competition at the Rutgers Invitational.
The Scarlet Knights competed in five swimming events and on the 1M diving board. The Scarlet Knights had five first place finishes and 12 top-3 finishes.
The Scarlet Knights' high-level talent among their youth was immediately on display. Six total freshmen contributed to top-three finishes, including four true freshmen attending their first collegiate meet as Scarlet Knights.
Rutgers' night was highlighted by a standout performance in the opening event, as RU set the pool record in the 200 Freestyle Relay. Lena Bauer, Emillianna Gonzalez, Anna Vlachou and Journei Webster swam a 1:30.34 to set the mark and just missed the previous school record (1:30.33, set in 2020).
In the second event, RU had two freshmen swimmers finish in the top three during their first collegiate meet. Grace Sorensen placed second and Florence Robitaille was third in the 500 Freestyle.
Ana Hazlehurst won the 200 IM, touching the wall in 2:02.67. In the 50 Free, RU had the top three finishers, as Emilianna Gonzalez, Anna Vlachou and Journei Webster went 1-2-3 respectively.
Rutgers swimmers finished with the 400 Medley Relay. The group of Valentina Giannini, Sofia Bartoloni, Anna Vlachou and Journei Webster took first place by a five second margin. Florence Robitaille, Holland Spangler, Grace Sorensen and Emilianna Gonzalez came in third.
On 1-Meter diving, Rutgers' four competitors all finished in the top-five spots. Bailee Sturgill took the event with a score of 326.90. Katerina Hoffman was second with a 309.80. Madilyn Varnum was third with a 308.60. Varnum entered RU's all-time top 10 list with her top scoring dive, as she stands eighth all-time. Gianna Lawrence also had a fifth place finish.
Rutgers Top-Three Finishers
200 Freestyle Relay (Pool Record)
Ā
The Scarlet Knights competed in five swimming events and on the 1M diving board. The Scarlet Knights had five first place finishes and 12 top-3 finishes.
The Scarlet Knights' high-level talent among their youth was immediately on display. Six total freshmen contributed to top-three finishes, including four true freshmen attending their first collegiate meet as Scarlet Knights.
Rutgers' night was highlighted by a standout performance in the opening event, as RU set the pool record in the 200 Freestyle Relay. Lena Bauer, Emillianna Gonzalez, Anna Vlachou and Journei Webster swam a 1:30.34 to set the mark and just missed the previous school record (1:30.33, set in 2020).
In the second event, RU had two freshmen swimmers finish in the top three during their first collegiate meet. Grace Sorensen placed second and Florence Robitaille was third in the 500 Freestyle.
Ana Hazlehurst won the 200 IM, touching the wall in 2:02.67. In the 50 Free, RU had the top three finishers, as Emilianna Gonzalez, Anna Vlachou and Journei Webster went 1-2-3 respectively.
Rutgers swimmers finished with the 400 Medley Relay. The group of Valentina Giannini, Sofia Bartoloni, Anna Vlachou and Journei Webster took first place by a five second margin. Florence Robitaille, Holland Spangler, Grace Sorensen and Emilianna Gonzalez came in third.
On 1-Meter diving, Rutgers' four competitors all finished in the top-five spots. Bailee Sturgill took the event with a score of 326.90. Katerina Hoffman was second with a 309.80. Madilyn Varnum was third with a 308.60. Varnum entered RU's all-time top 10 list with her top scoring dive, as she stands eighth all-time. Gianna Lawrence also had a fifth place finish.
Rutgers Top-Three Finishers
200 Freestyle Relay (Pool Record)
- Lena Bauer, Emillianna Gonzalez, Anna Vlachou and Journei Webster - 1:30.34
- Grace Sorensen ā 4:55.77
- Florence Robitaille ā 4:56.03
- IM
- Ana Hazlehurst - 2:02.67
- Emilianna Gonzalez ā 22.47
- Anna Vlachou ā 22.61
- Journei Webster ā 23.37
- Valentina Giannini, Sofia Bartoloni, Anna Vlachou, Journei Webster ā 3:40.27
3. Florence Robitaille, Holland Spangler, Grace Sorensen, Emilianna Gonzalez ā 3:46.75
- Bailee Sturgill ā 326.90
- Katerina Hoffman ā 309.80
- Madilyn Varnum ā 308.60
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Players Mentioned
Breast
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Free
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Back
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Free
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Fly/IM
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Diving
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Diving
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Back
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Fly
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Breast
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Free/Fly
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Free/Back/Fly
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