Huskers to Host Rutgers for Senior Day

Nebraska swimming and diving will return to Devaney Natatorium this weekend to host Rutgers for Senior Day.
 
The two-day dual is set to begin on Friday, Jan. 28 at 5 p.m. and resume at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 29.
 
The Huskers (6-1, Big Ten 2-1) and Scarlet Knights (2-4, Big Ten 0-1) met for the first time in 2018. Nebraska looks to tie up the series, as Rutgers currently leads, 2-1. The last matchup was in January 2020, where the Big Red dropped the close dual, 172-181. The year prior, Nebraska came out on top, 193-160.
 
After a dual victory last weekend against Illinois, the Huskers hope to continue their success and pick up their second-straight Big Ten win.
 
Fifth-year senior Autumn Haebig has led the Huskers in the freestyle events this season. As the reigning Big Ten Champion in the 200 freestyle, Haebig (Grafton, Wis.) has picked up three victories and two runner-up finishes in the event so far. In early December, Haebig swam to a top-ten finish at the U.S. Open in the 200-meter freestyle.
 
Nebraska has a solid group of backstroke swimmers as they claimed the top three spots in the 100 backstroke and top four places in the 200 backstroke against Illinois. Senior captain Madesyn Ronquillio has led the charge with eight titles in backstroke events on the season. Freshman Madison Lloyd and fellow sophomores Sarah Barton and Gabby Donahue have also provided consistent top finishes in the backstroke.
 
The distance corps has been led by All-American Audrey Coffey. The senior from Naperville, Ill. is coming off of a 1650 freestyle victory at Illinois while teammate Molly Rosenthal swam to third in the event. Freshman Ilaria Murzilli has also made an immediate impact with a pair of wins in both the 500 freestyle and the 1000 freestyle this season.
 
Freshman Maia Hall and sophomore Ella Stein have teamed up to make a mark in the breaststroke. Stein (Hudson, Wis.) has seven titles this season and Hall (Whitby, England) has placed in the top-three on eight occasions.
 
Senior Shannon Stott has won 10 events this season, six in the 200 butterfly. She also recorded a top-ten finish in the 200-meter butterfly at the U.S. Open. Fellow senior Maggie Berning has also provided solid performances in the 200 butterfly, with a third-place finish at the competitive Mizzou Invitational and an additional third-place finish against Illinois last weekend.
 
Sophomore Lexi Kucera has provided the Huskers with skill in the short sprints, powering herself to nine finishes within the top-three this season.
 
Junior Berkeley Livingston has shown her versatility throughout the year with a team-high of 17 top-five finishes. At the mid-season Mizzou Invitational, the Lincoln-native recorded a career-best in the 400 IM (4:17.10) to win the event.
 
Senior Sara Troyer has led the Big Red on the boards this season with eleven wins. At Illinois (Jan. 22), Troyer set a career-best three-meter score with a 382.35. She is joined by senior Hallie Roman who has eight top-three finishes this year and sophomore Reagan Hinze, who has seven finishes in the top-three this year.
 
Nebraska will see a couple of familiar faces over the weekend in the diving well. Abi Knapton, now competing for Rutgers, spent five seasons with the Huskers and is the most decorated diver in Nebraska history. Becoming a six-time All-American, two-time 2021 Big Ten champion and being named Nebraska Athletics Best Female Athlete for 2020-21 highlight Knapton’s career at Nebraska. 
 
Joining Knapton is Natasha Chikina, who is in her first year as the diving coach for Rutgers after spending 15 seasons coaching for the Huskers.
 
Some of Rutgers’ top returners include juniors Sofia Chichaikina and Giulia Ghidini.
 
Chichaikina owns two individual Rutgers school records (100 freestyle, 200 freestyle) and won both the 100 freestyle and 200 butterfly against Purdue earlier this season. Ghidini is a versatile short sprinter and owns a plethora of top-three finishes throughout the season.
 
Alice Scarabelli and Sofia Lobova are newcomers that have made an impact for the Scarlet Knights. Scarabelli had three victories at the season-opening dual at Army and a pair of individual wins at Colgate. Lobova has been honored as the Big Ten Freshman of the Week on two occasions and individually won two events (50 freestyle, 100 freestyle) at Princeton.
 
Live results will be available on the Meet Mobile app and live video will be streamed through Huskers.com.
 
Nebraska vs. Rutgers
Jan. 28-29, 2022 (5 p.m./ 10 a.m.)
Devaney Center Natatorium (Lincoln, Neb.)
 
Friday’s Order of Events:
3M Diving
200 Medley Relay
500 Free
200 IM
-Break-
200 Breast
200 Back
100 Free
-Break-
200 Fly
200 Free Relay
 
Saturday’s Order of Events:
1M Diving
400 Medley Relay
1650 Free
50 Free
-Break-
100 Back
100 Breast
100 Fly
200 Free
-Break-
400 IM
400 Free Relay