The Rutgers swimming and diving team started the season strong in the first day of the Sonny Werblin Invitational held at the Rutgers Aquatic Center Friday afternoon. The Scarlet Knights posted top finishes in three of the five events during the day’s session.
“I was very happy with the way we came out and performed today,” said head coach Phil Spiniello. “We’re working really hard and showing signs for a good season to come.”
Rutgers featured back-to-back finishers in the 200 yard I.M., with junior Morgan Pfaff (Red Lion, Pa.) hitting the wall first with a time of 2:04.72. Senior Greta Leberfinger (Chatham, N.J.) followed right behind with a second-place time of 2:08.38.
The Scarlet Knights performed well in the 400 yard medley relay, with the foursome of Leberfinger, Pfaff, junior Sarah Coyne (Osceola, Ind.) and freshman Emily Erwin (Jenkintown, Pa.) posting a first-place mark of 3:53.57. The finish was more than six seconds faster than the next team to hit the wall.
Erwin also performed well for the Knights individually, posting a second-place finish of 5:05.96 in the 500 meter freestyle.
On the platform, freshman Addison Walkowiak (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) claimed the top spot in the 3-meter dive, posting a final score 327.52.
The Scarlet Knights return to the pool Saturday at 9:00 a.m. with the 200 medley relay. The first diving competition will start at 10 a.m. with the 1-meter dive.
