RUTGERS SWIMMING & DIVING
PROGRAM REVIEW
Since Jon Maccoll took over the helm of the Rutgers swimming & diving program in 2017,
the Scarlet Knights have made major strides in raising its profile in the Big Ten.
Let's take a look at the notable successes and significant upgrades that have occurred
both in and out of the water in the Jon Maccoll era.
BIG RESULTS
During his career, Maccoll has been accountable for 182 All-America swims from 32 student-athletes and worked with six swimmers that went on to compete in the Olympics, with five earning gold medals at Olympic summer games. Under Maccoll's watch at Rutgers, the Scarlet Knights have achieved nearly 100 times and scores among the school's all-time top 10. In fact, 22 school records have been established during Maccoll's tenure, marking all but one of Rutgers' 22 benchmarks achieved since his arrival.
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 nine years, 25 individuals and 13 relay teams have reached top-eight status, including 76 finalists since 2022 and the highest team point total since joining the league at the 2023 championships.
THRU THE YEARS
2018-19
- Undefeated start to the year with six-straight dual meet victories and two invitational crowns.
- First two swimming medals at the Big Ten Championships.
- Three swimmers sent to the NCAA Championships, most since 2007.
- 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 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
- 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.
- Grusova 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
- Highest Big Ten Championship finish since joining the Big Ten
- Highest NCAA finish for the Scarlet Knights since 2006.
- 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
- RU captured its highest point total at the Big Ten Championships since joining the Big Ten
- NCAA Zone A platform champion Giulia Vittorioso to the NCAA Championships.
- Six podium finishes at the conference championships along with 11 B final competitors and five C final appearances.
- RU set three new school records in the 100 breast and 200 and 400 medley relays, along with a trio of Rutgers Aquatics Center Pool records in the 50 free, 200 free relay and 200 medley relay.
- The Scarlet Knights achieved 99 personal bests during the season, 65 event victories, 25 times/scores among the all-time top 10 along with 24 NCAA B cuts/zone scores.
2023-24
- The Scarlet Knights finished 32nd at the 2024 NCAA Championships with at least one Scarlet Knight sent to the national champions in each of the last three seasons.
- At the Big Ten Championships, the 400 medley relay team produced the highest podium finish for a relay squad since joining the league back in 2014
- Rutgers had a record 12 finalists, eight NCAA B cuts, 18 top 24 finishes,13 program top 10 times and 28 personal bests including a school record and podium finish for Tina Celik in the 100 back.
2024-25
- Fourth straight season represented at NCAA Championships
- RU sent a record four divers, including NCAA Zone Champions and Team USA members Katerina Hoffman on 3M and Bailee Sturgill on platform.
- At NCAAs, Sephora Ford earned Second Team All-America honors on platform, becoming the sixth Scarlet Knight diver to be named an All-American and the fourth over the last five years.
- Rutgers also continued to make their mark on the Big Ten Championships with 12 Scarlet Knights advancing to finals and Big Ten All-Freshman Sturgill making the podium on 1M and platform.
- Molly Urkiel spotlighted the continued success of Scarlet Knight graduate transfers in recent years as she set school records in the 200 breast and 400 IM.
- Rutgers also collected 25 new entries among its all-time top times/scores.
2025-26
- Fourth straight season represented at NCAA Championships
- RU sent three divers to NCAA Championships, with Katerina Hoffman (3-Meter) and Sephora Ford (Platform) named Second Team All-Americans, with Bailee Sturgill also competing on all three boards.
- RU has had an All-American on the boards in five of the past six years.
- RU had the NCAA Zone A Diving Champion in all three events, with Ford capturing the title on Platform and Hoffman on 3M and 1M.
- Anna Vlachou set school records in the 100 Freestyle and 100 Butterfly, making the A Final at Big Ten Championships in the 100 Butterfly.
- Between Vlachou and the three divers, RU had six podium finishes at the Big Ten Championships, as well as a total of 14 finalists across the event.
- Ana Hazlehurst made three finals at the Big Ten Championships, and saw her 200 and 400 IM times both be among the top-3 fastest in school history.
- Rutgers improved its Big Ten point total over 70 points more than the year prior and had its best Big Ten score since the West Coast expansion of the Big Ten.
- Rutgers had nine new entries into its all-time top-10 list, with five of them among the top-three all-time in program history.
B1G STAGE, B1G RESULTS
INTO THE RECORD BOOKS
The Scarlet Knight record book has been re-written time and time again as time drops and school records have been a significant achievement during Maccoll's tenure.
With Maccoll at the helm, Rutgers has captured its highest NCAA finish since 2006 and its highest point total in Big Ten history.
INTERNATIONAL/NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
The hallmark of the Rutgers swimming & diving program has been the ability for Scarlet Knights to not only compete at the highest level collegiately, but also train to compete at the highest stage in the world. Maccoll's Scarlet Knights pursue the goals of bringing home not only Big Ten medals, but commit to pursuing Olympic-level dreams. In fact, a Scarlet Knight has been featured on an Olympic roster in two of three contested during the Maccoll era.
Take a look at some of the notable achievements from the Scarlet Knights from around the world.
Elinah Phillip (2020 Olympic Games - Tokyo & 2016 Olympic Games - Rio)
Elinah Phillip became the first Olympic swimmer to represent the British Virgin Islands at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio and was her country's flag bearer for the opening ceremonies at the 2022 Olympic Games in Tokyo. At the 2016 games, Phillip competed in the 50m freestyle taking 48th with a time of 26.26.
Brooke Thompson - Two-Time Deaflympian
2025 in Tokyo
- 6 Medals (2 Gold, 4 Bronze)
- 2 World Records, 1 US Record
2022 in Brazil
- Eight Medals (Five Gold, 3 Bronze)
OLYMPIC DREAMS: Read about how being apart of #RUSD helps sophomore Terka Grusova in international waters and go after B1G goals
— RU Swimming & Diving (@RUSwimDive) January 24, 2020
?? >> https://t.co/dEDNgc6vMd#RUSD ?????| #GoRU ?? https://t.co/tTbkO18H7R
https://t.co/51Sz5mUau2 FEATURE
— RU Swimming & Diving (@RUSwimDive) October 14, 2019
Olympic Dreams: Federica Greco to Redshirt While Training for Tokyo 2020
?? » https://t.co/aaL8YHBbzd pic.twitter.com/iAeL43l6aQ
FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS
As much as Maccoll's Scarlet Knights have made improvements in the water, numerous changes have been made at Sonny Werblin. From the pool area to locker rooms to office space - Rutgers continues look for ways to upgrade its home each season.
Additionally, Rutgers Athletics as a whole has added even more resources and support to help Scarlet Knights succeed both in and out of the pool.
SONY WERBLIN UPDATES
- SPARGER SYSTEM - Added air-diffusing technology to the diving well to aerate the water below the platform tower to cushion the divers' impact for the start of the 2023-24 season
- STARTING BLOCKS - New state-of-the-art starting blocks were installed beginning in the 2022-23 season ready to launch Scarlet Knights into the water
- DIVING TOWER - The pool area recently received an aesthetic makeover with the diving tower painted red and branded with “Rutgers”
- NCAA RECOGNITION - Brand new banners were unveiled during the 2021-22 season highlighting the notable NCAA accomplishments
- LOCKER ROOM - The Scarlet Knights' home away from the pool was renovated with a brand new locker room area. Each Scarlet Knight has her own space featuring a lockable storage area with charging station
- OFFICE SPACE - The swimming & diving office got a new look highlighting in pictures some of the top accomplishments by the Scarlet Knights over the years along with recognition for RU's All-Americans, Olympians and Big Ten medalists
- ATHLETIC TRAINING - The team now boasts a full-time athletic trainer at all practices as well as home and away meets, key in handling diagnosing and analyzing injuries and in building rehabilitation and training programs to minimize time out of the water
GARY AND BARBARA RODKIN ACADEMIC SUCCESS CENTER
In addition to the improvements made for the Scarlet Knights at Sonny Werblin, Rutgers recently opened the Gary and Barbara Academic Success Center just a short distance from the pool.
The Rodkin is a state-of-the-art academic center that serves all Scarlet Knights supporting academic advising, learning specialists, one-on-one group tutoring, workshops and seminars, team study halls and computer labs. The building also features an expansive lounge area to foster peer-to-peer learning among student-athletes from all sports as well as additional space to host career networking nights with players and alumni.
The building also includes a strength & conditioning area for on-site training and development and a close proximity to the sports medicine team.
RWJBARNABAS HEALTH ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE CENTER
The RWJBarnabas Health Athletic Performance Center, which opened in 2019, is headquarters for a world-class sports medicine program that provides Rutgers' 625 student-athletes with an extensive array of healthcare services.
The home of Rutgers' sports medicine program features athletic trainers, physical therapists, sports medicine physicians, orthopedic surgeons, sports psychologists, psychiatrists and other behavioral health specialists, sports performance specialists and nutritional experts.
The RWJBarnabas Health Center also includes a high-performance nutrition café for student-athletes to grab meals and snacks throughout the day.
ACADEMICS
Accomplishments in the classroom are just as important as they are in the water.
For the last 25 semesters, Rutgers has been bestowed the CSCAA Team Academic Award for holding down a GPA of 3.0 or higher. In the Spring of 2026, Rutgers put together a 3.523 team GPA to be recognized for one of the most successful academic squads in both the Big Ten and the country. RU had seven student-athletes with a 4.0 GPA and 13 make the Dean's List.
Since joining the Big Ten, Rutgers swimming and diving has earned 82 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar distinctions for boasting a yearly GPA of a 3.7 or higher and placed 180 Scarlet Knights on Winter Big Ten All-Academic Teams.
NIL OPPORTUNITIES
Located next to one of the biggest media markets in the world, Rutgers student-athletes have enormous opportunities to capitalize on name, image and likeness.
THE FUTURE
Will you be a part of writing the next chapter in Rutgers swimming & diving success?
