NEW YORK — The Columbia women's swimming and diving team unofficially opened up its season Friday evening, hosting local opponent LIU Brooklyn in a scrimmage at the Percy Uris Natatorium.
 
The meet was not scored, but the Lions recorded victories in all but one of 16 events. Nine different Columbia swimmers earned individual wins.
 
"The scrimmage was a great opportunity to get off the blocks against an opponent and make some assessments about where we are and where we need to be in two weeks," said 28th-year Columbia head swimming coach Diana Caskey. "It was a solid first effort to start the Homecoming weekend!"
 
Serving as one of the earliest chances for first-year Lions to swim and dive in a competition setting, three rookies earned individual wins in the meet. Madison Leblanc recorded a victory in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:25.85, out-touching fellow first year Lindsay Rispoli at 2:29.22. Kasey Karkoska also earned a win in the 100 butterfly, going 58.23. 
 
Despite LIU Brooklyn not having a diving squad, Columbia's divers got in on the action, competing only on the 1-meter springboard. First year Brighida Rosendahl won the event with a score of 258.90. Fellow first year Michelle Lee placed second with a score of 242.69, just edging out senior Seanna Barrett with a 242.47.

Two Lions earned multiple individual wins in the meet. Senior Jessica Antiles picked up a pair of victories against the Blackbirds, winning the 100 backstroke (1:00.00) and 100 freestyle (53.27). Sophomore Jessica He came into the wall first in both the 200 butterfly (2:07.49) and 500 freestyle (5:10.37).
 
Both Columbia relay teams clocked triumphs, as the junior Julia Samson, Antiles, sophomore Emily Wang and junior Isabelle Jubin teamed up to win the 200 medley relay in 1:47.23. In the 200 free relay, Columbia's 200 free relay team of Antiles, Samson, first-year Mary Pruden and He combined for a winning time of 1:37.72 to close the meet.
 
Columbia will officially begin the 2018-19 season at Penn on Friday, Nov. 2, at 5 p.m. ET, before hosting its first home contest the following day against Northeastern at 1 p.m.