Rutgers Set to Host Villanova on Friday

Courtesy: Rutgers Athletics

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers women’s swimming and diving team welcomes Villanova to the Rutgers Aquatics Center on Friday at 5 p.m.

• The Wildcat women are 3-1 on the season in dual meet action having earned victories over Georgetown (210-90), Penn (157-102) and La Salle (187-106), while dropping its meet with Princeton (68-253).
• At the Mountaineer Invitational hosted by West Virginia in late November, Villanova placed third overall taking home a total of five titles in the 100 free, 200 free 400 IM, 400 medley relay and 800 free relay.
• Additionally, the Wildcats posted four runner-up performances in the in the 500 free, 200 IM, 200 medley relay and 400 free relay.

• The Scarlet Knights were last in the water hosting the Rutgers Invitational at the Rutgers Aquatics Center in early December against UConn, Colgate, Columbia, American, Lehigh, as well as Illinois on the boards.
• During the four-day meet, Rutgers set three Rutgers Aquatic Center records, came in first in nine events, collected five runner-up performances and registered seven third place finishes.
• Freshman Sofia Chichaikina took six total titles. In her first season with the Scarlet Knights, Chichaikina has helped re-establish three Rutgers Aquatics Center Pool records including the 800 free relay and 100 free during the Rutgers Invitational along with the 200 free relay against Princeton on Nov. 15.
• Senior Francesca Bertotto paced the Scarlet Knights in the distance events with three event wins including the 1650 free and 500 free and swimming the third leg of RU’s pool record setting 800 free relay squad.

• Freshman Sofia Chichaikina is currently listed among the top 10 in the Big Ten in a pair of events. Her 100 IM time of 59.07 captured at the Rutgers Preseason Tuneup is eighth among the conference competition while her NCAA B cut time of 49.46 in the 100 free from the Rutgers Invitational is currently 10^th in the conference.
• Four divers are also listed among the top scores in the Big Ten.
• Sophomore Marina Wilkins’ platform score of 202.05 from the Rutgers Invitational is third in the Big Ten, while her NCAA Zone qualifying mark of 302.80 on the 3-meter against Iowa State puts her third in the league.
• Also on the 3-meter, freshman Sam Blanc ranks second in the conference with her NCAA Zone qualifying score of 308.85.
• Sophomore Jenna Douglass is featured in fourth on the platform after her 201.60 at the Rutgers Invitational.
• Fellow second-year Scarlet Knight Megan Demeo checks at eighth on the 1-meter after posting a NCAA Zone score of 272.75 at the Rutgers Preseason Tuneup.

• Rutgers has been honored with a trio of weekly awards from the Big Ten this season.
• Sofia Chichaikina – Freshman of the Week (Nov. 13)  – Finished first, second or third in seven events against Iowa and Iowa State.
• Sofia Chichaikina – Freshman of the Week (Nov. 20)  – Repeated weekly award after capturing victories in the 100 free and 200 fly and helping the 400 medley and 200 free relays to wins, including setting a pool record with the 200 free relay squad.
• Terka Grusova – Swimmer of the Week (Nov. 20)  – Won a trio of events – the 100 and 200 back along with the opening leg of the 400 medley relay.

• Rutgers has reset four Rutgers Aquatics Center records in 2019-20, including all three free relays events.
• The first record reset was the 200 free relay team of Elinah Phillip, Giulia Ghidini, Sofia Chichaikina and Clare Lawlor against Princeton on Nov. 15 as the quartet swam to a time of 1:31.75.
• The 400 free relay squad of Chichaikina, Ghidini, Francesca Bertotto and Alexandra Fabugais-Inaba combined for a new record of 3:21.68 at the Rutgers Invitational on Dec. 7.
• The 800 free relay consisting of Chichaikina, Phillip, Ghidini and Eleonora Trentin finished in a record time of 7:15.38 on day one of the Rutgers Invitational on Dec. 4.
• Chichaikina also reset the Rutgers Aquatics standard in the 100 free with her NCAA B cut time of 49.46 on the final day of the Rutgers Invite on Dec. 7.

• Several Scarlet Knights are pursuing Olympic dreams while “On The Banks”.
• Rutgers hosted Long Course Trials in early December to capture times in a metered pool and measure results for potential Olympic invites.
• Senior Clare Lawlor qualified for Ireland’s trials in three of four events she swam including the 50 back, 50 fly and 50 free.
• Sophomore Simone Lusby of New Zealand registered times to be eligible for her country’s trials in the 50 back and 100 back.
• Freshman Sofia Chichaikina logged Russian national cuts in both the 50 and 100 free.
• Clare Lawlor is gunning for the Irish National Championships (April 1-4), while Francesca Bertotto, Federica Greco and Giulia Ghidini look to book a spot at the Italian National Championships (April 1-4).
• Rutgers has also booked the USA Swimming TYR Pro Swim Series and the United States Olympic Trials on its schedule.

• Sophomore Terka Grusova made her mark in international waters in December swimming at the 2019 European Short Course Swimming Championships.
• Representing her home country of the Czech Republic, Grusova swam in three backstroke events.
• Grusova kicked off her appearance placing 21^st overall in the field of 36 in the 100 back touching the wall in 59.52.
• The Jablonec nad Nisou, Czech Republic product later finished 20^th in the 200 back with a time of 2:11.08.
• She wrapped up competition taking 22^nd among the 35 competitors in the 50 back clocking in at 27.91.

• The Rutgers women’s swimming & diving team will host Nebraska on Friday, Jan. 31 and Saturday, Feb. 1 at the Rutgers Aquatics Center.