Rutgers Breaks 3 Pool Records from the 1983 NCAA Champs, But Falls to Nebraska

Nebraska vs Rutgers (Women’s Dual)

• Friday – Saturday, January 28-29, 2022
• Devaney Center Natatorium, Lincoln, Nebraska
• SCY (25 Yards)
• Results on MeetMobile

Team Scores

1. Nebraska – 210
2. Rutgers – 143

Nebraska hosted Rutgers for a Big Ten women’s dual meet over the weekend, with the hosting Huskers fending off the Scarlet Knights 210-143.

Despite the fairly lopsided final team score, Rutgers showed up in a big way in the relays, breaking a trio of pool records, all three of which were set during the 1983 NCAA Championships. The action kicked off on Friday with the 200 medley relay, where Rutgers’ Alice Scarabelli (25.79), Tina Celik (28.42), Beatriz Zoppei dos Santos (25.32), and Sofia Chichaikina (22.47) teamed up for a 1:42.00, marking both a season best and new pool record. Nebraska came in a close second in 1:42.32, thanks in large part to a 24.36 fly split from Alexa Kucera.

Friday’s session ended with the 200 free relay, which was the only relay Nebraska took over the weekend. The Huskers’ ‘A’ team of Jojo Randby (23.76), Alexa Kucera (23.16), Emily Haimes (23.41), and Autumn Haebig (22.64) handled business with a 1:32.97.

Rutgers again opened up the action on Saturday with a relay win, taking the 400 medley in 3:42.11. This time, Scarabellim (55.04), Celik (1:02.64), and Sofia Lobova (53.84), Giulia Ghidini (50.59) broke the pool record, pulling away from Nebraska on the final 100.

The Scarlet Knights closed out the meet with a decisive victory in the 400 free relay, again downing the pool record. Lobova led the team off in 50.93, with Ghidini going 2nd in 50.57, Chichaikina split a huge 49.25 on the 3rd leg, and Eleonora Trentin anchored in 50.28. Their time of 3:21.03 downed the previous pool record by 3 seconds.

5th Year and reigning Big Ten Champion Autumn Haebig had a productive weekend for the Huskers, winning the 500 free, and 200 free. She kicked things off with a 4:46.81 to win the 500, leading a 1-2-3-4-5 charge by Nebraksa in the race. Teammate Ilaria Murzilli took seconds in 4:52.26, Shannon Stott came in 3rd in 4:52.39, Molly Rosenthal was 4th with a 4:54.30, and Margaret Berning touched 5th with a 4:56.12.

Haebig would go on to win the 200 free on Saturday, swimming a 1:47.57 to hold off Rutgers’ Sofia Chichaikina (1:48.55). Haebig was out in 53.01 at the 100, narrowly leading Chichaikina (53.18). Haebig then threw down a 26.81 split on the 3rd 50, severely out-splitting Chichaikina’s 27.60.

In the 100 free, the roles were reversed. Sofia Chichaikina got the touch, narrowly beating Haebig, 50.02 to 50.05. Unfortunately, the splits aren’t available for that race, so we can’t analyze it any further. Chichaikina also won the 50 free on saturday, touching in 23.19 to win by 0.51 seconds.

Chichaikina also won a barnburner in the 200 fly, holding off Nebraska’s Shannon Stott and Margaret Berning. Chichaikina used her superior speed to get out to the early lead, splitting 56.78 on the first 100, compared to 57.20 from Stott, and 57.96 from Berning. Stott made up about 3-tenths of a second on Chichaikina on the 3rd 50, only out-split her by 0.08 seconds on the final 50, ultimately finishing 0.02 seconds behind Chichaikina. Rutgers picked up the win with Chichaikina swimming a 1:59.03, Stott took 2nd in 1:59.05, and Berning came in 3rd with a 2:00.18.

Nebraska had an excellent showing in the 1650 free on Saturday, nearly matching their 500 performance by taking the top 4 spots. Audrey Coffey led the way, swimming a 16:45.02, and teammate Molly Rosenthal was also under 17 minutes, swimming a 16:52.81 for 2nd. Ilaria Murzilli finished 3rd with a 17:01.47 and Rachel Powers took 4th with a 17:04.26.

Nebraska had 3 swimmers under 2:00 in the 200 back, led by Madesyn Ronquillio touching first in 1:58.19. Sarah Barton came in 2nd with a 1:59.44, and Madison Lloyd touched 3rd in 1:59.88.

Sofia Lobova posted a 54.23 to win the 100 fly handily, touching first by 1.5 seconds.

PRESS RELEASE – NEBRASKA:

Nebraska added five titles in the second session on Saturday to end the dual season with a 210-143 victory over Rutgers.

“What a great couple of days,” Nebraska head coach Pablo Morales said. “It was the perfect challenge for us going into Big Tens and our girls responded and competed really well. Rutgers has a great diving program including a former Husker coach and diver so it was great having them back in Nebraska. They brought a great level of competition for our divers.”

After ending the first session on Friday night with a 75-27 lead, the Huskers (7-1, Big Ten 3-1) dominated from the start on Saturday. Nebraska claimed the top four spots in the mile, an effort that was led by senior Audrey Coffey (16:45.02). Junior Molly Rosenthal swam to a runner-up finish (16:52.81), freshman Ilaria Murzilli placed third with a 17:01.47 and senior Rachel Powers took fourth (17:04.26).

Sophomore Ella Stein led a Huskers sweep in the 100 breaststroke by swimming a season-best time of 1:02.72 to win the event. A trio of NU freshman completed the sweep, with Sydney McCracken taking second with a 1:02.96, JoJo Randby placing third with a 1:03.22 and Maia Hall taking fourth with a 1:03.37.

Randby (Omaha, Neb.) also captured a runner-up finish in the 50 freestyle (23.70).

Senior Madesyn Ronquillio notched her 10th backstroke victory of the season with a win in the 100 backstroke (55.55), while sophomore Gabby Donahue finished third with a 55.99.

After winning the 200 IM on Friday, junior Berkeley Livingston continued her success swimming in the individual medleys with a big victory in the 400 IM (4:19.89). Sophomore Sarah Barton finished as runner-up (4:24.41), while freshman Madison Lloyd (4:24.70) took third to make it another Big Red sweep.

Livingston (Lincoln, Neb.) added a runner-up finish in the 100 butterfly with a 55.76, while junior Kaitlyn Barth took third with a 55.97.

Reigning 200 freestyle Big Ten Champion, Autumn Haebig, earned the 200 free title with a 1:47.57. Sophomore Lexi Kucera swam to third in the event with a 1:49.71.

The Huskers notched two runner-up finishes in relay action on Saturday. Junior Emily Haimes joined Haebig, Stein and Kucera to swim a 3:42.70 in the 400 medley relay to place second. In the last event of the dual, Haebig and Randby teamed with freshman Beatriz Padron and senior Shannon Stott in the 400 freestyle relay (3:25.40).

Senior Sara Troyer added a second-place finish on the boards, scoring a 333.30 on the three-meter.

The Huskers are looking to carry the momentum into the Big Ten Championships. The conference meet will take place from Feb. 16-19 in Madison, Wis.

Nebraska 210, Rutgers 143
Jan. 28-29, 2022
Lincoln, Nebraska (Devaney Natatorium)

Nebraska Champions
200 Backstroke – Madesyn Ronquillio (1:58.19)
500 Freestyle – Autumn Haebig (4:46.81)
200 IM – Berkeley Livingston (2:02.59)
200 Breaststroke – Maia Hall (2:14.44)
200 Freestyle Relay – Nebraska – Randby, Kucera, Haimes, Haebig (1:32.97)
200 Freestyle – Autumn Haebig (1:47.57)
100 Breaststroke – Ella Stein (1:02.72)
1650 Freestyle – Audrey Coffey (16:45.02)
100 Backstroke – Madesyn Ronquillio (55.55)
400 IM – Berkeley Livingston (4:19.89)

PRESS RELEASE – RUTGERS:

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Rutgers women’s swimming & diving team wrapped up the dual meet season falling 210-143, however, captured several season bests and saw another Scarlet Knight capture an NCAA B cut and move up in the RU record books.

• Altogether the Scarlet Knights won six events highlighted by four victories by Sofia Chichaikina and another sweep in diving by Abigail Knapton.
• Chichiakina registered the fourth-best time in the Rutgers record book with an NCAA B cut in the 200 fly. The junior also added wins in 50 free and with the 200 medley and 400 free relays teams.
• A career-best and zone qualifying mark was had by senior Megan Demeo on 1M, while season-bests went to the 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay, graduate student Alice Scarabelli in the 200 IM and senior Cat Salladin in 500 free and 400 IM.

• It was another sweep for Abigail Knapton winning both the 1M and 3M titles at her former school. The graduate student scored 287.63 on 1M and 340.13 on 3M having upped her total to 14 titles this season.
• Junior Savana Trueb claimed third on both boards scoring 280.13 on 1M and 304.94 on 3M.
• Additionally, senior Megan Demeo wrapped up her final dual meet with a new PR and zone qualifying mark of 280.05 on 1M.

• Three of the four relays hit the wall in first place against the Cornhuskers.
• On Friday night, it was the 200 medley relay out in front with Alice Scarabelli, Tina Celik, Beatriz Zoppeidossantos and Sofia Chichaikina edging out the hosts by .32 seconds for a season-best 1:42.00.
• Saturday saw two relay wins for the Scarlet Knights. First, the 400 medley relay squad of Scarabelli, Celik, Sofia Lobova and Giulia Ghidini opened the day racking up a season top time of 3:42.22. The meet concluded with Lobova, Ghidini, Chichaikina and Eleonora Trentin outpacing the competition in the 400 free relay by 4.37 seconds to clock in at 3:21.03.

• Sofia Chichaikina moved up the Rutgers all-time 200 butterfly list and captured an NCAA B cut. The junior Scarlet Knight logged the event’s top time of 1:59.03 giving her the fourth-best time in the RU record book.
• Chichiakina also went on to claim a victory in the 50 free with a time of 23.19 and placed second in the 200 free in 1:48.55.
• Sofia Lobova added another victory for RU in the 100 fly clocking in at 54.23 while also coming in as the runner-up in 100 free in 50.70.
• Alice Scarabelli was the runner-up in two events. She logged a season-best 2:03.04 in the 200 IM and came in second in 55.87 in the 100 back.
• Tina Celik claimed third in the 200 breast finishing in 2:18.90.
• Eleonora Trentin also had a third-place finish in the 50 free coming in .01 second off her season-best in 23.71.

• Cat Salladin picked up two season bests in the 500 free (4:57.13) and 400 IM (4:28.97).

• The Rutgers women’s swimming and diving team travels to Madison, Wisconsin site of the 2022 Big Ten Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships being held Feb. 16-19.