Before competing at the 1948 Olympics as a member of the 4x200 relay team, a versatile Eugene Rogers became one of the first superstar swimmers in Columbia history. Rogers exploded onto the scene during the 1942-43 season, collecting 20 wins in dual-meet competition in 21 events. The Astoria, New York, native went on to also grab the Eastern Intercollegiate Swimming League crown in both the 220-yard and 440-yard freestyle.

He made his first NCAA Championship appearance in 1943, competing in both the 220-yard and 440-yard freestyles. The first-year solidified his presence among the top swimmers in the country with a third place finish in both events and that was only the beginning.

In his second season, Rogers went undefeated in dual-meet competition with another 20-win season. He capped a sensational regular season with another phenomenal performance at the NCAA Championships. With a time of 2:11.0, Roger captured his first individual national championship title in the 220-yard freestyle. He also grabbed a runner-up national finish in the 440-yard freestyle.

In his final season in 1944-45, Rogers would once again go unbeaten in dual-meet action with 16 wins and went on to defend his 220-yard freestyle national title.  Rogers capped a stellar career at Columbia with an outstanding dual-meet record of 56-1.