Since taking over the Rutgers swimming & diving program, Maccoll's Scarlet Knights have continued an upward trend in overall team performance and in reaching the podium at the Big Ten Championships. Over the last five years 15 individuals and eight relay teams have reached top-eight status, including a school record 10 finalists and the highest team point total since joining the league most recently at the 2022 championships.
THRU THE YEARS
2018-19
The 2018-19 season was a monumental as the Scarlet Knights captured an undefeated start to the year with six-straight dual meet victories and two invitational crowns. It was all in preparation for championship season, where Rutgers earned its first two swimming medals at the Big Ten Championships since joining the conference in 2014-15 and sending the most swimmers to the NCAA Championships since 2007 with three. Vera Koprivova claimed a pair of bronze medals in the 100 and 200 Back, and Francesca Stoppa earned bronze in the 200 Fly at the Big Ten Championships. The senior pair joined freshman Terka Grusova at the NCAA Championships. By season’s end, the Scarlet Knights combined for 21 new entries into the program’s all-time Top 10 times and scores list.
Four Scarlet Knights represented Rutgers at the NCAA Championship in 2019 with senior Francesca Stoppa leading the group with her fourth career appearance on the national stage. Vera Koprivova, in her second NCAA appearance, was .01 seconds away in the 200 back from becoming Rutgers’ first honorable mention All-American swimmer since 2008 and graduated as the programs’ record holder in the 100 and 200 back, as well as the team’s first two-time Big Ten Championships medalist in those two events. Rachel Byrne was on the boards at NCAAs for a third-straight season and Terka Grusova earned the invitation in her debut collegiate season.
2019-20
The Scarlet Knights continued to break records in the 2019-20 season. Five school records were reset and six new Rutgers Aquatic Center pool records were established as the 18 times or scores were among the all-time top 10. Rutgers had four podium finishes at the Big Ten Championships led by Terka Grusova’s silver medal performance in the 100 back, the highest finish for a Scarlet Knight to date. The Czech Republic native also earned a repeat trip to the NCAA Championships. While the Covid-19 pandemic brought a halt to sports in March, Grusova did land all-america honors in both the 100 and 200 back.
2021-22
Rutgers was back to full strength for 2021-22 and continued to make huge strides in the water. The Scarlet Knights captured their highest Big Ten Championship finish since joining the Big Ten eight years ago and finished 26th at the NCAA Championships, the highest finish for the Scarlet Knights since 2006.
Altogether the Scarlet Knights produced 10 podium finishes at the championships. Seven new Rutgers school records were established and 28 times/scores were recorded among the all-time top 10. Nine NCAA "B" cuts were collected, while six divers were sent to NCAA Zones. On the boards, Rutgers sent two divers to the NCAA Championships with Abigail Knapton producing all-america honors as a finalist on platform and consolation finalist on 3-meter.
2022-23
Rutgers will return 16 letterwinners from last season including Big Ten Podium finishers Tina Celik, Sofia Chichiakina, Giulia Ghidini, Sofia Lobova, Alice Scarabelli, and Savana Trueb
