Women's Swimming & Diving Opens Season With Dominant Victory Over NYU

Friday, October 30

New York, N.Y.

5:00 p.m.

Columbia

180

115

NYU

Results

Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Tiffany Luke

10/30/2026 7:45:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving

Results Photo Gallery

Wells breaks program record in 3m dive as Lions defeat Violets 180-115

NEW YORK — The Columbia women's swimming and diving team opened the 2026-27 season in dominant fashion on Friday evening, defeating defending NCAA Division III national champion NYU, 180-115, at Uris Natatorium. The Lions put together an impressive all-around performance, highlighted by a program record from Sophia Wells in the 3m dive and several standout performances from the first-year class.

Columbia got the evening started with a bang, as Wells broke the program record in the 3m dive with a score of 332.33 to take first place. Valeriya Bondarenko finished third with a score of 255.15, while first-year Nikka Asgarian made an immediate impact in her collegiate debut, placing fifth with a score of 251.03.

In the first swimming event of the season, the Lions took first place in the 200 medley relay. Leading the way was the team of first-year Romy Kirby, Audrey Wolk, Ella Chan, and Isabel Lee, who combined for a winning time of 1:44.23. Columbia's second relay team of Madeline Gau, Natalia Diaz, Annabelle Kung, and Sophie Kloppenburg finished third with a time of 1:46.90.

Samantha Segerson earned Columbia's first individual swimming victory of the season, winning the 400 IM with a time of 4:30.95. Shaelyn Shields was right behind her in second place, touching the wall at 4:34.60 to give the Lions a one-two finish.

Mia Avansino picked up right where she left off last season, claiming first place in the 200 free with a time of 1:52.30. Jilly MacNamara finished third in the event, clocking in at 1:54.96.

Kirby made an immediate impression in her collegiate debut, winning the 100 back with a time of 56.07. The first-year swimmer also helped Columbia secure its victory in the opening 200 medley relay.

Natalia Diaz shined in the breaststroke events, sweeping both the 100 and 200 breast. The senior earned her first victory in the 100 breast with a time of 1:04.08, while Ashley Hong finished just behind her in second place at 1:04.40. First-year Mary Bao also made a strong debut, finishing fourth with a time of 1:05.35.

Diaz continued her impressive evening with another first-place finish in the 200 breast, touching the wall at 2:20.00. Bao was right behind her in second place with a time of 2:21.65, while Wolk completed the Columbia sweep with a third-place finish at 2:23.84.

Lee earned her first individual victory of the season in the 50 free, clocking in at 23.44. Kloppenburg followed in third place with a time of 24.07, while Wolk finished fourth at 24.13.

Kloppenburg then claimed a victory of her own in the 100 free, touching the wall first with a time of 52.67. First-year Brisa Gao made an impressive collegiate debut, finishing just behind her in second place with a time of 52.77.

MacNamara picked up her first win of the season in the 200 back, clocking in at 2:03.07. Lorelai Page added a fourth-place finish with a time of 2:05.98.

Avansino completed her individual sweep in the freestyle events with a dominant victory in the 500 free, finishing with a time of 4:59.48. First-year Maebelle Stern impressed in her collegiate debut, taking second place with a time of 5:06.32. Segerson followed in fourth place at 5:12.74.

Chan also got her sophomore campaign off to a strong start, earning a first-place finish in the 100 fly with a time of 56.67. Isabel Peng finished fourth with a time of 57.31, while Kung placed fifth at 58.10.

For the divers, Wells continued her record-breaking night with another victory in the 1m dive, completing the sweep with a score of 288.30. Lily Sherman finished second with a score of 261.30, while Asgarian capped off an impressive collegiate debut with a third-place finish at 259.35. The Lions swept the top three spots in the event.

"All of our women really showed up today," Head Diving Coach Scott Donie said. "Strong showing all around. An absolutely spectacular return to competitive diving for Sophia. Two NCAA Zone qualifying scores and a program record. Such a rare and thrilling performance."

In total, Columbia claimed first place in 12 of the 16 events, including both diving competitions, to secure a convincing victory in its first meet of the season.

Full results from the meet, including all of the Lions' top performers and times, can be found HERE.

Columbia will be right back at it tomorrow, hitting the road for a quick trip to Fordham. The meet is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

For the latest on the Columbia women's swimming and diving program, follow @CULionsWSD and @CULionsDiving on Instagram and Twitter, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.