Press Release courtesy of Rutgers Athletics
Rutgers swimming and diving gets its first taste of a championship-style meet when it welcomes 13 teams for the annual Frank Elm Invitational on Friday through Sunday, Nov. 17-19 at the Rutgers Aquatics Center in the Werblin Recreation Center.
“This is a high-level preparation meet for us,” said head coach Petra Martin. “We have a big meet coming up at the Texas Invitational, so we’re not taking any rest or tapering, because we don’t want to miss a beat. This is good chance to get championship format experience and push as hard as we can during an important time of the season.”
MEET INFORMATION
Rutgers hosts women’s teams from Columbia, Central Connecticut State, James Madison, Liberty, LIU Brooklyn, LIU Post, Navy, Northeastern and Wagner, in addition to men’s and women’s diving teams from UConn, Massachusetts, Virginia and West Virginia.
Preliminary sessions take place each day beginning at 9:30 a.m. Finals commence at 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Diving will host women’s 1-meter and men’s 3-meter prelims on Friday at noon, women’s 3-meter and men’s 1-meter prelims on Saturday at noon, and the men’s and women’s platform competition on Sunday at 2 p.m. It will be the first platform event for the Rutgers divers this season.
The 1,650-yard freestyle timed finals will take place on Sunday at 2:20 p.m. with three heats, the last of which will kick off the final evening session on Sunday.
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KNIGHT NOTES
- Senior Addison Walkowiak was named the Big Ten Diver of the Week on Nov. 8 for the fifth time in her career, following a dominating performance on the 1- and 3-meter boards at Rutgers’ penta-meet against Georgetown, Pittsburgh, Seton Hall and Villanova on Nov. 3-4. Both wins came via NCAA Zone 1 Diving Championships qualifying scores. She claimed her first 3-meter event of the season with a season-high score of 343.55 and topped the field of 16. She proceeded to sweep the weekend’s diving events with 308.35 points and a first place finish on the 1-meter over the field of 16. She currently owns the third best mark on the 1-meter in the Big Ten this season, and fourth highest grade on the 3-meter.
- Sophomore Francesca Bertotto won her first event of her collegiate career at the penta-meet, defeating 19 opponents in the 500-yard freestyle. Her time of 4:57.51 set a new personal record and a new season time standard in the event for the Scarlet Knights.
- Sophomore Federica Greco took two seconds off RU’s best 400-yard individual medley time of the season, and swam a personal record 4:26.69 at the penta-meet. Her time ranks 12th in the Big Ten this season.
- Junior Francesca Stoppa has five event wins this season, including four in the 200-yard butterfly. Her top time of 2:00.89 comes in 11th this week on the Big Ten rankings in the event.
- Junior Vera Koprivova has won four events this season, with three coming in the 200-yard backstroke. Her best mark of 2:01.38 is 16th best in the Big Ten heading into the weekend.
WELCOME TO THE FAMILY
Martin announced on Oct. 30 the addition of Carmen Young to the Scarlet Knights’ support staff as the Volunteer Director of Player Development. The newly acquired position is responsible for preparing student-athletes for personal, academic and athletic development success. Young, who has swimming experience at both the competitive and coaching level, will be assisting the program with multifaceted tasks.
SWIM & DIVE POSTS FIRST PERFECT GRADUATION SUCCESS RATE SCORE
The program achieved its first perfect score of 100 in the annual GSR report by NCAA Division I, released on Nov. 8. The score reflects an average for students who entered college from 2007-10. The graduation-rate data is based on a six-year cohort prescribed by the U.S. Department of Education. The NCAA developed the Division I GSR in response to college and university presidents who wanted graduation data that more accurately reflect the mobility among all college students today.
LAST TIME OUT
Rutgers claimed two dual wins, two event victories and four improved season standards as the two-day penta-meet wrapped up on Nov. 4 inside Rutgers Aquatic Center. The Scarlet Knights defeated Georgetown (235.5-117.5) and Seton Hall (275-78), while finishing short of Pittsburgh (219-134) and Villanova (210.5-142.5).
UP NEXT
The Scarlet Knights prepare for one of the biggest mid-season championship events of the season at the Texas Invitational from Nov. 29 through Dec. 2.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers swimming & diving, follow the program on Twitter (@RUSwimDive) and on Instagram (ruswimdive). The team is also on Facebook (facebook.com/RUSwimDive).