PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers swimming and diving is ready to begin competitors this weekend, with the season opening meet. The Scarlet Knights roster has rounded into type, with RU welcoming 11 newcomers to the squad, with 4 transfers and 7 freshmen.
The latest Scarlet Knight freshmen are Goksu Dogan, Emilianna Gonzalez, Giana Lawrence, Elayna Ling, Tayla Smith, Emily Volchansky and Casey Zentz. RU additionally welcomes transfers Chiara Alberti (Georgia Southern), Angelica Bath (University of Toronto), Ana Hazlehurst (Indiana) and Anna Vlachou (Nebraska). Rutgers brings in a single diver (Lawrence) and 10 swimmers.
RUTGERS SWIMMING AND DIVING NEWCOMERS
TRANSFERS
Chiara Alberti
Freestyle
Bassano del Grappa, Italy / Georgia Southern
2024-25 (at Georgia Southern):
Third Team All-Sun Belt
Took residence bronze in 50 and 100 free on the Sun Belt Championships
Hit the wall within the 50 free (22.93) simply 0.05 seconds below the Georgia Southern document
Captured the second-best 100 free time (50.30) in Georgia Southern historical past
Also reached the rostrum with the 200 free relay on the Sun Belt Championships
2023-24 (at Georgia Southern):
Set faculty document within the 800 Free Relay
Team-best 1:52.32 within the 200 Free
Helped set the highest time of 1:34.22 within the 200 Free Relay
Member of the group that set the highest time of three:27.99 within the 400 Free Relay
PRIOR TO COLLEGE
Swam for CN Uisp Bologna
Italian Junior and Senior National Championship qualifier
PERSONAL:
Daughter of Maria and Pietro Alberti
Has three brothers, Marco, Luca, and Francesco, all of whom are swimmers
On Choosing Rutgers: “I chose Rutgers because of its welcoming environment and the good balance between academics and athletics. I was looking for a school with a strong physics program that was also close to a big city and Rutgers provides both. Most importantly, the team feels like a family, which makes the swimming and diving program really special.”
Angelica Bath
Backstroke
North Vancouver, B.C., Canada / University of Toronto
Represented Canada on the inaugural Canada-Great Britain Dual Meet
OUA Champion in 100 again and 200 free relay
Runner-Up at OUA Championships in 100 again
Bronze at OUA Championships in 50 again
Also positioned fourth at OUA Championships with 200 medley relay
Runner-up on the U Sports Championship within the 200 again
Bronze with the 400 medley relay on the U Sports Championship
Also positioned fourth within the 100 again on the U Sports Championship
2024 (at Toronto):
OUA Champion with 200 free relay
Runner-Up at OUA Championships in 200 again
Also positioned fourth at OUA Championships in 100 again
Bronze with the 400 medley relay on the U Sports Championship
Also positioned fourth within the 100 again on the U Sports Championship
2023 (at Toronto):
OUA Champion with 200 medley relay
Bronze at OUA Championships in 50 again, 100 again and 200 free relays
Also positioned fourth in 200 again and sixth in 50 free at OUA Championships
Placed fourth within the 200 again, sixth within the 100 again and seventh within the 50 again on the U Sports Championship
2022 (at Toronto):
Placed fourth within the 50 again and 200 again and fifth within the 100 again on the OUA Championships
PERSONAL:
Daughter of David and Susan
Has one brother, Nathan
Working on a Master’s of communication and media
On Choosing Rutgers: “I chose Rutgers for its exceptional athletics and academics. I’m confident it’s a place where I can grow, excel and challenge myself both in the pool and the classroom.”
Ana Hazlehurst
Fly/IM
Lutherville Timonium, Md. / Indiana
2025 (Rutgers):
Named to Big Ten Preseason Swimmer to Watch List
PRIOR TO RUTGERS
Spent 2024-25 at Indiana University
Top feminine recruit from class of 2024 from Maryland
USA Swimming Nationals qualifier
Seven-time particular person state senior champion
Won 5 Maryland Swimming LSC Championships, ending second within the 1000 free and third within the 200 again
Broke 31-year-old 100 breast document set by Olympic gold medalist Anita Nall
Two-time USA Swimming Scholastic All-American
PERSONAL
Daughter of Matthew and Jelena
Has one brother, Aidan
Plans to main in psychology
On Choosing Rutgers: “Rutgers stood out to me due to its fantastic and welcoming team culture, fostered both by the coaches and girls on the team. I knew Rutgers was the place I could become the fastest in the pool and the best person I can be.”
Anna Vlachou (Nebraska)
Free/Fly
Athens, Greece / University of Nebraska
2024-25 (Sophomore – at Nebraska)
Academic All-Big Ten
Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar
Set a faculty document 52.63 within the 100 butterfly prelims on her solution to a Nineteenth-place particular person end within the finals
Contributed to 3 faculty relay data for the Big Red on the convention meet, swimming legs within the 200 free relay (1:29.97), 200 medley relay (1:38.50) and 400 medley relay (3:36.12)
Helped set two faculty document instances on the Big Ten Championships (want which relays)
Collected first place finishes within the 100 fly, 100 free, 200 and 400 free relay and 400 medley relay in meet with Rutgers and Iowa
2023-24 (Freshman – at Nebraska)
Podium end with eight-place efficiency with 400 medley relay at Big Ten Championships for third-fastest time in Nebraska historical past
Placed 21st total within the C last of the 100 fly on the Big Ten Championships
Qualified for 100 free last on the Hawkeye Invitational
Finished eighth within the 200 free and 100 fly on the Hawkeye Invitational
Runner-up in 100 butterfly and positioned third within the 100 freestyle versus Rutgers
Vlachou was a constant contributor to NU’s relay success and was part of 4 successful relays this season. She helped the 400 medley relay to an eighth-place end on the Big Ten Championships. The group completed in 3:37.60 for the third-fastest time in NU historical past
PRIOR TO COLLEGE
2o GEL Argyroupolis
Competed for Olympiacos membership crew
2023 Greek Junior Swimming Championship Best Female Athlete
European Junior Swimming Championships semifinalist in 100 fly in 2022 and 50 fly in 2023
2021 European Junior Swimming Championship qualifier
Multiple medalist at Greek Open Championships
PERSONAL
Daughter of Dimitrios Vlachos and Christina Rizou
Has one brother, Stefanos
Plans to main in labor and industrial relations
On Choosing Rutgers: “I chose Rutgers because of the team, the coaches, the facilities, and the school’s location.”
FRESHMEN
Goksu Dogan
Free/Back
Istanbul, Turkey
PRIOR TO COLLEGE
Turkish National crew swimmer
Turkish document holder
European Junior Semi-finalist
PERSONAL
Parents are Fatih Dogan and Cigdem Atmaca Dogan
Has one brother, Gokhan Dogan
On Choosing Rutgers: “I chose Rutgers University because it was the most established and academically successful school in line with my research and because it was in the Big Ten Conference.”
Emilianna Gonzalez
Free
New York, N.Y.
PRIOR TO COLLEGE
2024 USA Swimming Futures Champion in 50 free
Three-time Futures medalist
Four-time Senior Metropolitan Champion in 50 free
Three-time Junior Nationals Finalist
Sixth place in 50 free at 2025 Speedo Sectionals
Seventh place in 50 free at 2024 Speedo Sectionals
2023 Metro Age Group Champion in 50 and 100 free
2018 Metropolitan Swimming Long Course Junior Olympic Champion in 50 breast and runner-up in 100 breast
GCHSAA 50 and 100 free document holder
Two-time Dominican Academy MVP
Two-time Scholastic All-America
PERSONAL
Daughter of Rafael and Arsida
Has one brother, James, and on sister, Mirna
Plans to main in pc science
On Choosing Rutgers: “I chose Rutgers because of its athletics and it’s top-tier computer science program.”
Giana Lawrence
Diving
Flemington, N.J.
PRIOR TO COLLEGE
Honorable Mention Top NCAA Diving Recruit Class of 2025 By SwimSwam
Four-time NISCA Diving All-American
2025 NJSIAA Girls State Diving Champion
Sixth place in synchronized 3M at 2025 USA Diving National Championship
Fifth place in synchronized 3M at 2024 USA Diving Winter Nationals
Sixth place group A ladies 3M and group A/B synchronized ladies 3M at 2024 USA Diving Junior National Championship
Elayna Ling
Free/IM
Pleasanton, Calif.
PRIOR TO COLLEGE
Three-Time North Coast Section Finalist
Three-Time CIF state qualifier
PERSONAL
Parents are Michael and Pamela Ling
Has a youthful sister, Arienne
On Choosing Rutgers: “I chose Rutgers for its exceptional academics and the amount of opportunities that are provided for their student athletes.”
Tayla Smith
Free
Canton, Mich.
PRIOR TO COLLEGE
Michigan MLA Ultra Championship finalist in 50 breast and 100 IM
MHSAA Division 1 State Championship finalist in 50 free
Five-time Michigan Open Short Course Championship finalist in 50 free and breast and 100 free, breast and IM
Canton High School document holder in 200 free relay, 200 medley relay and 400 free relay
NISCA Award
KLAA Scholar Athlete
PERSONAL
Daughter of Michael and Denise
Has one sister, Micah
On Choosing Rutgers: “I chose Rutgers because of the diverse community of the students who go there. I wanted a big school where there were students of multiple backgrounds, so it made sense to go to a university with similar multiculturalism and diversity I was used to. Also, the girls on the team made my official visit really special. They were so welcoming and supportive of one another. I knew that I wanted to contribute to an environment like that.”
Emily Volchansky
Breast
Robbinsville, N.J.
PRIOR TO COLLEGE
Third within the 100 breast on the 2025 NJSIAA Meet of Champions
Mercer County Swimmer of the Meet after taking gold in 100 breast, 200 IM and 200 medley relay
Holds Robbinsville High School document in 100 breast, 200 medley relay and 200 free relay
Holds membership data briefly course and lengthy course 50, 100 and 200 breast
2025 Speedo Sectional finalist in 50 breast
Runner-up in 100 breast at 2024 Speedo Sectionals
2024 USA Swimming Futures 200 breast finalist
2023 USA Swimming Futures 100 breast finalist
Runner-up in 100 breast at 2024 Speedo Sectionals
NJ Long Course Junior Olympic finalist in 100 breast
PERSONAL
Daughter of Alexander and Pauline
Has one brother, Samuel
Plans to main in psychology
Casey Zentz
Free
Reisterstown, Md.
PRIOR TO COLLEGE
Speedo Winter Junior National qualifier
2025 Speedo Sectional finalist in 100 and 200 free
2024 Speedo Sectional finalist in 50, 100 and 200 free
Three-time Maryland state champion
Bronze in 50 and 100 free at 2024 Maryland State Senior Championship
Maryland State Senior Championship finalist in 50, 200 and 500 free and 100 again
2023 Maryland LSC Senior Championship finalist in 50 again and 100 free
2022 Maryland 14&U Champion in 50, 100 and 200 free and finalist in 100 and 200 again
USA Swimming Scholastic All-American
PERSONAL
Daughter of Richard and Elizabeth
Has two sisters, Riley and Caroline
Plans to main in train science
On Choosing Rutgers: “Rutgers had a good physical therapy program and I really liked the team culture of the swim team.”