Meet the 2025-26 Swimming and Diving Newcomers

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

 

Newsworthy: Bath in Toronto Observer

2025 (at Toronto):

• U-Sports Canadian All-Star Team
• 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 21^st 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
• 2024 runner-up NJSIAA Girls State Diving Champion behind Rutgers teammate Katerina Hoffman
• 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.”