RUTGERS & DIVING

RUTGERS SWIMMING & DIVING A HISTORY OF SUCCESS

In its 101-year history, the Rutgers Swimming and Diving program has been under the direction of just nine head coaches - James H. Reilly (1916-1957), Otto H. Hill (1957- 1961), Frank W. Elm (1961-1993), Elizabeth Blau (1993- 1996), Rick Simpson (1996-1997), Chuck Warner (1997- 2010), Phil Spiniello (2010-2015), Petra Martin (2015-17) and now Frederick Woodruff and Jon Maccoll. Rutgers Swimming has enjoyed a proud history of success, achievement and one of the finest sports traditions “On the Banks.” Compiled after researching years of Scarlet yearbooks and Targums, this history is only a limited glimpse into the 101-year old tradition and recognizes only a very few of the hundreds of athletes who trained, competed and contributed to the fine tradition of Frank Elm and Judy Melick, the first Rutgers Female Swimmer. Rutgers Swimming. “On the Banks.” Spence was an AAU Champion and a Canadian Olympian. He won the 100 free in three 1916-1930 consecutive NCAA Championships and combined with Rutgers Swimming began in 1915 upon the Walt Ashley (‘35), Ted Brick (‘34) and Norm Kramer (‘33) completion of the Ballantine Gym with a $30,000 for a winning freestyle relay in the 1933 NCAAs. The donation by Mrs. Ballantine for a pool addition. The 1930-33 teams boasted an overall record of 21-4. Later, pool was dedicated March 10, 1915 with a “gala” Rutgers hosted the 1938 NCAA Championships at the meet starring National Champion, world record holder “state of the art” College Avenue facility. and two-time Olympian (1908 and 1912) James Reilly From 1940-42 the Scarlet Knights registered (1997 Rutgers Olympic Sports Hall of Fame Inductee). a 22-6 record. The teams were led by AAU champ Reilly was promptly hired as the “swim instructor” and Chuck Gantner (‘44) who used the “new” four decades of excellence began. Reilly also presided technique that eventually became the butterfly in 1954. over the new Eastern Collegiate Swimming Association Gantner was an Eastern Champion, National Champion from 1920 until 1927, with Rutgers compiling a record and one-time world record holder. of 48 wins and only nine losses. Leo Geibel (‘23), also 1946-1956 saw continued successes with the an AAU Champion, won the 220 free in the National teams recording an overall record of 64 wins against Intercollegiates and set intercollegiate records in the 150 only nine losses. All-American Bob Nugent (‘52), a 1997 and 440 free. George Kojac (‘31) continued Olympic Sports Hall of Fame inductee, epitomized the his national and world record-setting performances on era. Earning First Team All-American honors in ‘49, ‘50 campus and off. He represented the U.S. in the 1928 and ‘51, Nugent was 1948 Eastern Champion in the 100 Olympics in Amsterdam, winning gold medals in the 100 free, and an NCAA finalist in both 1950 and 1951. Reilly backstroke and 800 free relay. He won the 100 free title left Rutgers with an enviable record of 240 wins and 92 at the 1931 NCAAs and combined with Bill Marquette losses. His teams recorded five undefeated seasons, 12 (‘30) and John Dryfuss (‘32) for a world record in the 300 seasons of only one loss and an overall .722 winning medley relay. percentage. He was a recognized leader in the sport, having coached Olympians and world record holders 1930-1961 during his long tenure at Rutgers. Riley was inducted into The Ballantine Gym was destroyed by a fire the Rutgers Olympic Sports Hall of Fame. in the early morning of Jan. 30, 1930, necessitating Head coach Otto Hill led the Rutgers men from construction of a new facility. “Borrowed” sites such 1957-1961. as the New Brunswick YMCA and Princeton University were used for swimming until the College Avenue 1961-1991 Gym opened on March 11, 1932, with a huge “Aquatic Frank Elm was appointed head coach in 1961 Carnival.” after Otto Hill was promoted to Athletic Business In the 1930s, Walter Spence (‘34), a 1997 Rutgers Administrator. Elm came to Rutgers as a successful Olympic Sports Hall of Fame inductee, began his career FACT BOOK

of the Rutgers Olympic Sports Hall of Fame. Rutgers women’s swimming burst onto the scene with three consecutive undefeated seasons, 1975-1977, and a dominance of Eastern Championships. The RU women were the only Eastern team to place in the top ten at the 1977 Nationals. Fifteen swimmers earned All-American recognition. Judy Mellick, Ellen Wallace, Debbie Franks, Maureen Mortell and Robin Locklair were among the leaders, champions and stars of their era. Wallace later represented the U.S. at the Pan- Am Championships and has been inducted into the Rutgers Olympic Sports Hall of Fame. A 1997 inductee into the Rutgers Olympic Sports Hall of Fame, Tiny Condrillo Randazzo was a consistent scorer at the Eastern Championships, a top-six finisher at Nationals and a two Frank Elm was a coach of the 1964 U.S. Olympic Team, of which Sue Pitt- Anderson and Ginnie Duenkel were members. time All-American. In the ‘70s Elm had a 70-20 record AAU Coach, New Jersey Interscholastic Champion, All- with the women’s program. American from Indiana University and swimmer-coach Frank Elm best described the ‘80s when he in the Marine Corps. From 1961-72 the Scarlet Knights retired in 1993. In an interview he said, “There have enjoyed 11-straight winning seasons, with an overall been so many highs and lows over the years. The lows 79-42 record. The creation of the Eastern Seaboard were not winning too much, especially during the 80’s Championships in 1965 brought the Scarlet Knights to when basically we had no scholarship help and our pool was antiquated. We couldn’t attract anybody, so it was a new level. Swimmers Bill Clark (‘63), Larry Jones and really difficult to hang in there and keep going,” (Star John Wasylyk (64), Don Galluzzi and Marty Flickenger Ledger, April 30, 1993). But the Scarlet Knights did keep (‘65), and diver Roy Nichols (‘64) (Eastern Champion and going and continued with a proud and competitive NCAA top-eight finisher) were the top performers. In decade. The ‘80s saw mostly .500 seasons for both 1968, Rutgers was fourth in the prestigious Easterns with men and women, but the teams were spirited and top six performances by Bob Chenaux (‘66), in the 1650, competitive. The 1987-88 season saw five school records Dave Feigley (‘66) in diving, All-American sprinters Bruce broken. James McGuckin received the unprecedented Ball (‘67) and Dick Woodrow (‘66), and Peter Hibbard awarding of both the James H. Reilly trophy and August (‘67), Eastern Champion in diving. Rutgers’ success in Heintzmann awards. Swimmers Ron Farina, Peter Loftus the Easterns continued with John Hannan (‘68) scoring and Ted Zlydaszek combined to lead the men to an in the 1650, 500, and 200 fly while Jim Rose (‘67), Elliot 8-2 record and set eight school records in 1989. The Cheneaux (‘68), Jim Parkinson (‘70), Jose Ferraioli (‘69), long-awaited news that a new facility would actually be Dave Helming (‘71) and divers Peter Leitner (‘70) and Ted Doeing (‘72) contributed to the team’s efforts. Ferraioli and the Cheneaux brothers represented their native Puerto Rico in Olympic competition. Gregg Anderson ‘70 (Rutgers Olympic Sports Hall of Fame Inductee) was the leading point-scorer for the Scarlet Knights in the late 60s. He was named All-American in both 1968 and 1969 in the 200 backstroke and won three Eastern Championships while qualifying to compete in the NCAAs. The ‘70s are best known for the inclusion of women in the RU program. Olympian Judy Mellick (‘77), became the first female member of the Rutgers team and the first woman to compete with men. Mellick was among the pioneers as newly-coed RU embarked on a successful women’s athletic program. In recognition of her contributions, Mellick was inducted into the first class Kelly Harrigan was a four-time NCAA First Team All-American and 19-time BIG EAST champion during her career at RU. RUTGERS SWIMMING & DIVING built aided Coach Elm in recruiting. Elm recruits Jeff Kelly Harrigan and senior Sean Smith, who both came Farschon, Larry Page and Tim Berlin led the Scarlet away with BIG EAST Most Outstanding Performer honors Knights’ rebuilding efforts. Atlantic 10 Champions and at the conference championship meet. Both the men’s school record holders Farschon and Page were named and women’s squads finished in third place, behind only Swimmers of the Year in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Notre Dame and Pittsburgh, and are poised to remain at Elm retired after 31 years at the helm of Rutgers the top of the conference standings for years to come. swimming. He led the efforts to construct the “state The 2005-06 season, arguably one of the of the art” swimming facility which is part of the Sonny most successful under Coach Warner, was highlighted Werblin Recreation Center on the Busch Campus. The by the team’s second-place finish at the BIG EAST facility, located just west of the football stadium, was Championships and 18th-place showing at the NCAA completed in 1991. Elm enjoyed two seasons in the Championships, the highest team finish in the program’s swimmers’ new home before retiring. history. The swimming and diving 1993-2009 team added yet another successful season to the Elizabeth Blau, an Elm assistant, became the programs storied history during the 2006-07 season. head coach in 1993 and led the team in its transition The team demonstrated the programs growing success from the Atlantic 10 Conference to the tougher and by winning six straight dual meet competitions to end faster BIG EAST. On 1994 Scarlet Knight swimmers went the season with a 6-1 record overall and a 3-0 mark 7-2 in men’s competition, and 4-5 in women’s contests. in BIG EAST competition. The Scarlet Knights once Nine school records fell that season. Diving coach Fred again placed second in the BIG EAST Championships Woodruff was named Atlantic 10 Diving Coach of the and managed a 22nd place finish at the NCAA Year in 1995. Championships. Interim Coach Rick Simpson led the 1996-97 In 2008 the Scarlet Knights captured three Scarlet swimmers as Rutgers hosted the BIG EAST individual first-place finishes at the BIG EAST Championships at the Werblin Center. The season was Championships and two swimmers advanced to highlighted by a first-ever victory over Army. the NCAA Tournament. Shayna Longacre garnered In 1997, California transplant and well-known Honorable Mention All-American honors with her coach Chuck Warner took over the building process performance at the NCAA Tournament. Additionally, at Rutgers. Warner began the process of re-building numerous former, current and future Scarlet Knights a championship program and continuing the storied competed at the 2008 Olympic Trials in Omaha, Neb. success of Rutgers swimming. In 1998-99, the men’s In 2009, Catherine Whetstone earned a team jumped from 10th to fifth at the BIG EAST trip to the NCAAs after earning the gold at the Championships and in 1999-2000, the women vaulted BIG EAST Championships - and setting a new meet record from ninth to second at the conference championships, - in the 100 backstroke the most dramatic leap of any team in the BIG EAST. For his efforts, Warner was named BIG EAST Women’s 2010-2015 Coach of the Year, following a season that saw his After the 2010 season, a new era was ushered women’s squad finish with a 7-2 overall mark and shatter in with the hiring of head coach Phil Spiniello. Spiniello 20 saw great improvements in his squad during his first school swimming and diving records. This feat, along year with the Scarlet Knights. Senior Jen Betz made the with the 6-3 mark posted by the men’s squad, which trip to the NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and finished third in the conference, served as tangible proof Diving Championship at the University of Texas in Austin, that Rutgers swimming was on the rise on a conference following a second place finish at the Zone A Diving and national level. Championship. In 2002-03 the women’s team finished third in In Spiniello’s second year at the helm, he led the conference, and broke all but two school records. the team to its best record since 2001. The 9-2 Scarlet The women’s team also saw its first ever qualifier for the Knights went undefeated in the BIG EAST posting a NCAA Championship meet in Erin McIntyre. Erin made perfect 4-0 record. the “A cut” in the 1650 freestyle, and also qualified for In 2012-13 RU finished with a 9-2 overall the 400IM and 500 freestyle. A year later, the women record, matching that of the previous year. The Scarlet jumped to second in the conference and Warner was Knights would capture a fifth-place finish in the BIG once again named BIG EAST Coach of the Year. EAST Championships -- just missing fourth place The 2004-05 season was highlighted by the by 4.50 points and 32.50 points shy of third. Then- remarkable individual accomplishments of All-American sophomore Nicole Scott continued the Scarlet Knights’ FACT BOOK

nine school records between the ¬regular season and postseason. The 2014-15 season marked the program’s inaugural campaign in the Big Ten Conference. RU finished with a 9-1 dual record under Spinello as the Scarlet Knights broke six school records, four of which were set at the Big Ten Championships. For the second straight season, Rutgers sent two student-athletes to the NCAA’s. Senior Greta Leberfinger represented RU in the 100 and 200 breaststroke, while Walkowiak competed in the 1-meter and platform diving events. Leberfinger finished 33rd in the 200 breaststroke competition and Walkowiak finished 43rd in the 1-meter dive. At the conclusion of the season, Spiniello 2014 AAC Coach of the Year, Phil Spiniello stepped down from the helm of the program after a five-year tenure. Overall, a total of 13 Rutgers school diving legacy, winning silver at the Zone A Diving records were established under Spiniello’s guidance. Championships and qualifying for the NCAA Division I Spiniello also sent five different student-athletes to the Women’s National Diving Championships. NCAA Championships, including an Honorable Mention Additionally, the Scarlet Knights went on to All-American in former Scarlet Knight diver Nicole Scott. break four school records through the season in the 200 Butterfly (Brittany Guinee), 200 Breaststroke 2015-2017 (Greta Leberfinger), 400 Medley Relay (Joanna Wu, Petra Martin was named the program’s head Leberfinger, Guinee, Mary Moser) and Platform Diving coach on May 5, 2015. Before arriving “On the Banks”, (Scott). Martin served as the head coach at Bowling Green The 2013-14 season proved to be a historic State University, where she guided the program to a campaign for the Rutgers swimming and diving team, top-three finish at the Mid-American Conference (MAC) as the Scarlet Knights posted a multitude of notable Championships in three consecutive seasons. Martin accomplishments throughout the year and finished with was named the 2012-13 MAC Coach of the Year. a 9-4-1 record. For the first time since 2008, RU sent Martin guided the Scarlet Knights to a 6-5 dual two student-athletes to the NCAA Women’s Swimming record in her inaugural season as Rutgers notched six and Diving Championships in senior diver Nicole Scott new school records. Junior Alyssa Black, sophomore and sophomore Joanna Wu. Wu’s selection to NCAAs Addison Walkowiak and freshman Francesca Stoppa marked the first swimmer under fourth-year head coach qualified for the NCAA Championships, marking the Phil Spiniello to advance to the championships. Scott third consecutive season the Scarlet Knights had at least would go on to garner Honorable Mention All-America one swimmer and one diver represent the program at honors after placing 16th overall in the platform. the NCAAs. The diving captain qualified by capturing a silver Black earned Honorable Mention All-America medal in the platform dive at the 2014 Zone Diving honors in 3-meter diving, while Stoppa broke a school Championships for the second-straight year. record in the 200 butterfly to finish 18th. Stoppa’s 18th- Out of the pool, Scott also represented the place performance was the best finish at the NCAAs program well, earning two prestigious academic awards: for any Scarlet Knight swimmer since Shayna Longacre the American Athletic Conference Female Scholar- finished 15th in the 100 breaststroke at the 2008 NCAA Athlete of the Year award and the Rutgers’ New Jersey Championships in Columbus, Ohio. Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women The 2016-17 season saw the Scarlet Knights (NJAIAW) Woman of the Year award. earn their best-ever finish at the Big Ten Championships Spiniello was named the American Athletic (ninth), send five to the NCAA Championships and Conference Women’s Swimming Coach of the Year after boast a second straight Honorable Mention All- leading Rutgers to a third-place finish at the inaugural American in senior diver Alyssa Black. RU set five new AAC Championships, the squad’s best finish since 2007. program records at the Big Ten Championships: two by The Scarlet Knights earned eight medals over the four- Stoppa (100 and 200 Fly), one by Vera Koprivova (200 day championships. On the year, RU broke a total of Back), and a pair of relays (400 FR and 400 MR). RUTGERS SWIMMING & DIVING

Head diving coach Frederick Woodruff guided three of his divers to the NCAA Championships from March 16-18 in Indianapolis in Alyssa Black, Addison Walkowiak and Rachel Byrne. They were joined by swimmers Stopps and Koprivova. Black finished 16th in the 3-meter diver with a score of 301.55 to earn her second consecutive Honorable Mention All-America accolade in the event. In the pool, Koprivova broke her school record in the 200 backstroke, hitting the wall with a time of 1:53.74 to surpass her previous school record of 1:53.94 set at the Big Ten Championships. Her finish was good for 31st in the field.

2017-Present Longtime diving coach Frederick Woodruff and the program’s newest coach, Jon Maccoll, were named co-head coaches on Dec. 6, 2017. Next to Woodruff’s long list of accolades as a diving coach, is an even longer list of student- athletes that have benefitted from his mentorship and guidance both on and off the springboards. A staple of the program since joining the coaching staff in 1993, Woodruff has sent six of his divers to the NCAA Championships over the last three seasons while competing in the Big Ten Conference. Maccoll arrived in Piscataway after most recently serving as head coach at University of Sioux Falls in South Dakota, where he launched the institution’s first women’s swimming team in 2016. He brings with him a championship culture honed over the course of seven years as an assistant at UNLV and Queens University. Maccoll’s resume is loaded with success, from guiding established programs to new heights, to building fledgling teams from the ground up to immediate prominence. His first stop was at Queens University in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he was tasked with spearheading the start-up program as an assistant coach from 2010-13. FACT BOOK

RUTGERS INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING and

Several current and former Rutgers University women’s swimmers have had the chance to represent their country throughout the program’s history. Most recently, Rutgers junior Joanna Wu qualified in the 100 backstroke for the 2012 Olympic Trials. Additionally, recent Rutgers graduate Taylor Zafir, as well as graduated Scarlet Knights Catherine Whetstone, Shayna Longacre, Kasey Kesses, Kelly Harrigan, Megan Caylor, Brianne Lindblad and Sarah Bicknell battled for spots on the U.S. squad for the 2008 Olympics in Omaha, Neb. Rutgers international success dates back to 1972, as the first-ever Rutgers female swimmer competed in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. Below represents a timeline of Scarlet Knights in red, white and blue.

Judy Mellick (‘72 Olympic Games) The first ever female swimmer at Rutgers University, Mellick competed in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, placing fifth in the 100 meter breaststroke (1:16.34) and also racing on Team USA’s gold medal 400 medley relay (4:20.75). At Rutgers, Mellick helped pioneer a successful women’s swimming program, contributing to three consecutive undefeated seasons and earning All-America honors before graduating in 1977. Seventeen years later in 1994, she was among those in the first class inducted into the Rutgers Olympic Sports Hall of Fame.

Ellen Wallace (‘75 Pan American Games, World Championships) Wallace was a member of the U.S. Pan American Team that traveled to Mexico City, Mexico in 1975. At the games, she finaled in the 200 meter freestyle and 200 meter backstroke. Later that year, Wallace placed fourth in 200 backstroke (2:20.42) at World Championships in Cali, Colombia, and the following year, she just missed making the 1976 Olympic Team with a fourth-place finish in the 200 backstroke at Olympic Trials. During her campaign “On the Banks,” Wallace was one of the charter members of women’s swimming at the university. She played a crucial role in Rutgers’ breakout dominance of the Eastern Conference, gaining All-American recognition in the process. Wallace was inducted into the Rutgers Olympic Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.

Michelle DeFreese (‘04 FINA World Cup) DeFreese walked on to the Rutgers squad after swimming for a year at Montclair State University. Before she graduated, she claimed multiple BIG EAST titles as well as setting the Rutgers and BIG EAST records in the 100 yard butterfly (53.32) and in numerous relays. DeFreese qualified for the NCAA Championships twice, RUTGERS SWIMMING & DIVING

At Rutgers, Longacre has garnered multiple BIG was voted Most Inspirational by her teammates in two- EAST titles in addition to owning school records in the consecutive years. 100 and 200 yard breaststroke (1:01.30, 2:15.32) and the Post-graduation, DeFreese represented the 200 yard individual medley (2:02.09). She was named to Scarlet Knights at the 2004 Olympic Trials, finishing the All-BIG EAST Third Team as a senior in 2010. 10th in the 100 meter butterfly (1:01.18). Later in 2004, She competed in the 2008 NCAA she topped off her competitive swimming career with a Championships, earning honorable mention All- strong showing at the FINA World Cup in Daejon, Korea. American honors with a 15th place finish in the 100 yard She garnered a silver medal in the 50 meter butterfly breaststroke. She also represented Rutgers at the 2008 (27.41) and a bronze in the 100 meter butterfly (1:00.70). Olympic Trials.

Kelly Harrigan (‘07 World University Games) Catherine Whetstone A highly decorated swimmer at both the (‘07 Japan International Grand Prix) conference and national levels, Harrigan was crowned a Whetstone earned a spot on the U.S. team that BIG EAST Champion 19 times—leaving multiple broken traveled to Chiba, Japan for the Japan International BIG EAST and school records in her wake—as well as Grand Prix meet in 2007. She raced the 100 meter qualifying for the NCAA Championships four times and butterfly (1:00.60), finishing in the 21st place slot. competing at Olympic Trials in 2000, 2004 and 2008. Whetstone added many impressive academic She was a four-time All-American in the 100 and 200 yard and athletic accomplishments to her resume during backstroke, finishing as high as 3rd in the 200 (1:54.77) at her Rutgers campaign. Individually, she has collected the NCAA Championship in 2006. BIG EAST gold medals in the 100 yard butterfly and A year after graduation, Harrigan earned a spot backstroke events—setting the BIG EAST and school at the U.S. World University Games which took place in records in both (53.27 and 53.11). She is a two-time Bangkok, Thailand in 2007. She claimed an individual NCAA Championships qualifier with honorable mention gold medal in the 200 meter backstroke (2:11.48) at the All-American honors in the 100 yard butterfly. Whetstone Games, and also aided fellow teammates in snagging earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors as a senior in gold in the 800 meter freestyle relay - setting and 2010. She was among those competing for Rutgers in the resetting the World University Games Record in the 2008 Olympic Trials. event. Outside of the sports arena, Whetstone has been honored with the Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Award Shayna Longacre (‘07 Japan International Grand Prix) and named Rutgers Woman of the Year after, among Longacre got her first taste of international many other things, compiling a 3.918 GPA in the Rutgers competition at the 2007 Japan International Grand Prix School of Business. meet, held in Chiba, Japan. She represented the U.S. in both breaststroke events, recording a 15th place finish in Vera Koprivova (‘17 World University Games) the 100 meter (1:10.28) and a 19th place finish in the 200 Junior Vera Koprivova represented Rutgers meter (2:34.33). swimming and diving and her native Czech Republic FACT BOOK at the 2017 World University Games in Taipei, Taiwan Aug. 20-27, highlighted by a Top 16 world finish in the 200-meter backstroke. Koprivova set ambitious goals at the 29th Summer Universiade. The Scarlet Knights sought a Top 16 finish in Koprivova’s strongest event, the 200-meter backstroke, which was first on the slate on opening day of The Games. The Rutgers junior touched the wall at 2:14.64 in her heat, earning a trip back to the semifinals on Sunday evening. She bettered her time (2:14.18) in the semis and placed 13th. The junior backstroker also competed in the 50 back (25th place), 100 back (28th) and two relays with the Czech Republic. In the 800-meter freestyle relay, Koprivova and her countrywomen placed 10th, aided by her leadoff leg of 2:03.55, the fastest on the squad.