2023-24 (Freshman)
- USA National Diving Chamionships Qualifier - 1M & 3M
- Seventh on 3M vs.Nebraska & Iowa (1/31)
- Sixth place on 1M and 3M vs. Fordham (1/24)
- Sixth place on platform at Rutgers Diving Invitational (12/7)
- Sixth place on 3M at Rutgers Diving Invitational (12/6)
- Third place on 1M at Rutgers Diving Invitational (12/5)
- Seventh place on 3M vs. Princeton (11/16)
IN THE POOL:
- Three-time USA Diving Junior National Qualifier
- USA Diving Junior National semifinalist
- NISCA All-American
- USA Today High School Sports Awards National Team
- Three-time NCHSAA 3A State Champion
- Lake Norman Charter Women’s Swim & Dive MVP
- Three-time first team all-state
PERSONAL:
Daughter of Craig and Jennifer
Has one brother, Macron
Member of the Science National Honor Society and National English Honor Society
AP Scholar Award winner
Volunteer with the Davidson Community Gard and juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Plans to major in finance
Varnum On Choosing Rutgers: “I chose Rutgers for the incredible balance of the strength of both its academic and athletic programs and for the team culture. In choosing Rutgers, I know that I will be pushed to achieve my maximum potential as a diver and as a student while being surrounded by a group of truly kind, dedicated and high motivated teammates and coaches.”
KNOW YOUR KNIGHTS
Nickname: Madi
One word to describe your coach: Diligent
Favorite Rutgers athlete, past or present: Chloe Timberg - Track & Field (Pole Vault)
Best player ever competed against: Julia Vincent
Major: Finance
I chose my major because: I would love to be involved in the film industry, but I don't want to risk job instability trying to become a filmmaker alone. The management of money is a critical aspect of film production and distribution, so a degree in finance will hopefully open the opportunity to work with a studio on all of the financial facets of making movies, then maybe later in life try my hand at directing.
The person I most admire, and why: Greta Gerwig; It's very inspiring to see the impact she's made on the film industry as a whole by staying true to herself and her creative visions. She's brought a lot of recognition to the unique talents and perspectives that women bring to film making. Her success has helped to open the door for this up and coming generation of female filmmakers, which I am thrilled to see in such a historically male-dominated industry.
If I wasn’t swimming, I’d be: Watching a movie, working on a screenplay, or making a playlist
Favorite professional athlete: Laurie Hernandez
Favorite professional sports team: The Dallas Cowboys, because my cousin is one of the cheerleaders
One word to describe myself in the pool: Focused
One word to describe myself out of the pool: Inspired
Few people know that I: Am technically a published author!
Person who had greatest influence on my athletics career: Biyu Sun, one of my primary gymnastics coaches
I started playing my sport because: After two elbow surgeries for gymnastics-related injuries in 2020, my surgeon strongly advised me not to return to the sport. I was determined to prove him wrong despite the risks that posed to my health, but my mom signed me up for diving against my will. A week after my first lesson, I had fallen in love with the sport and decided to stick with it.
I chose Rutgers because: It has an incredible balance between the strengths of its academic and athletic programs, and the culture of the women's Swim & Dive team is truly wonderful. In choosing Rutgers, I know that I will be pushed to achieve my maximum potential as both a student and as a diver, and I will be surrounded by the best group of genuinely caring, hard-working, and motivated teammates, coaches, advisors, and staff along the way.
Favorite cereal: Vanilla chex
The movie I have watched the most in my lifetime is: 10 Things I Hate About You
The best actor/actress to play me in a movie is: Either Liza Weil or Natasha Lyonne
Favorite musician/group: Jeff Buckley
The first song I knew all the words to: "I Knew You Were Trouble" by Taylor Swift
If I could turn any activity into an Olympic sport, I would win a gold medal at: Shopping. Thrifting, specifically.
Famous people I have met include: Nastia Liukin, Laurie Hernandez
Rituals I have before, during or after a game are: Right before I get in the water, I listen to "Everlong" by the Foo Fighters, and I sing the chorus to myself in my head before I compete each dive.
Favorite all-time gift received: Probably the McKenna American Girl Doll
Pets I had growing up were: Abby, a tabby cat, when I was very young, then Lucy, another tabby cat, Paisley, a lab mix, and Winnie, a golden retriever, the latter three of whom I still have
My favorite Halloween costume growing up was: Crazy Cat Lady
The place in the world I would most like to visit is: Vienna, Austria
The website I visit most often is: Letterboxd
My favorite teacher was/is: I have two - Mrs. Porter, grade 11, Literature & Film and Mrs. McClain, grades 11 and 12, AP Lang and Creative Writing
The quote that most resonates with me is: "This is where we ended up. This is where I'm supposed to be." - Nora (Greta Lee) from Past Lives (dir. Celine Song, 2023)
If my life was a book, the title would be: Headfirst
If I could choose any color when buying a new car it would be: Red
My spirit animal is: Harbor seal
One thing on my bucket list is: To write and direct a feature film
Phone app you cannot live without: Spotify
What you would like to say to the R Fund donors who have provided for your scholarship and/or facility resources: Thank you so much! For many student-athletes including myself attending Rutgers would not be possible without scholarship. Your donations make it possible for me and all of the other student-athletes at Rutgers to attend a top university with incredible resources that will set us up for success for the rest of our lives, and for that I am forever grateful.
How Rutgers and donor support has changed your life: The scholarship that I am receiving from Rutgers funded by donors made it possible for me to attend Rutgers in the first place, and it is giving me the opportunity to attend a great school and be a part of a team that will help me to achieve my dreams.
