Rutgers swimming and diving announced its 2017-18 schedule on Monday. The competitive lineup features six home events, including both the ECAC Championships and NCAA Zone A Diving Championships, along with a dual meet with Big Ten Conference opponent Nebraska. The home competition with the Cornhuskers marks the first Big Ten opponent to visit the RU Aquatics Center since the Scarlet Knights joined the conference.
This season, RU hosts schools from both the Big Ten and Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). In total, Rutgers sees four Big Ten programs (Illinois, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State), and two ACC programs (Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech) during the regular season.
“We are very excited about our competition schedule,” said head coach Petra Martin. “It will provide us with a plethora of opportunities to race with some very challenging teams which is what we need to do in order to improve. We will also have some very exciting home meets that will bring Big Ten and ACC schools to our facility.
“Just like last season, we will see a mix of Big Ten and ACC schools on our schedule with a few other PAC 12, SEC, Ivy’s and others mixed in at the various invitational meets. Our goal to prepare the team the best way possible for success and even higher placement at the Big Ten and NCAA Championships is stronger than ever. We have worked hard the whole summer and spring and we are ready to attack the new season.”
For the third consecutive season, the Scarlet Knights open with the Florida Gulf Coast Swimming Classic from Oct. 6-7 in Palm Coast, Florida. RU hosts its annual Alumni Meet on Oct. 21 before it hits the road for a tri-meet with Big Ten opponents Illinois and Northwestern on Oct. 27 in Champaign, Illinois. Rutgers closes out that weekend against the Wildcats, along with the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois-Chicago on Oct. 28 in Evanston, Illinois.
The Scarlet Knights return home from Nov. 3-4, when they host Georgetown, Pittsburgh, Seton Hall and Villanova at the RU Aquatics Center. The program will then send participants to compete at the Big Ten Challenge from Nov. 11-12. RU hosts the Frank Elm Invitational from Nov. 17-19 at the RU Aquatics Center before it sends swimmers to the Texas Invitational from Nov. 29-Dec. 2 in Austin, Texas. The fall portion of the schedule ends with the Big Al Open from Dec. 1-3 in Princeton, New Jersey.
The second semester begins with a home dual meet against Yale on Jan. 12, who closed out the 2016-17 season receiving votes in the final CSCAA Coaches Poll. The Scarlet Knights travel to Columbus, Ohio to compete against Ohio State and Virginia Tech before they close out the regular season with their home meet against Nebraska from Jan. 26-27.
Championship season begins with the Big Ten Conference Championships, held Feb. 14-17 in Columbus. Rutgers then hosts the first of two national events at the RU Aquatics Center with the ECAC Championships from Feb. 23-25. The divers will compete in the Zone A Championships in Piscataway from March 5-7.
The NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships will be held from March 15-17 back in Columbus.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding Rutgers swimming & diving, follow the program on Twitter (@RUSwimDive) and on Instagram (ruswimdive). The team is also on Facebook (facebook.com/RUSwimDive).
Press Release courtesy of Rutgers Athletics.
