Women's Swimming & Diving Introduces 10 Newcomers
8/4/2026 2:00:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving
Nine swimmers and one diver join program for 2026-27 season
The class of 2030 hails from seven different states (along with one swimmer from Shanghai, China) and is composed of nine swimmers and one diver, including one transfer sophomore.
Details on this season's incoming class are below. Fans can access the complete 2026-27 Columbia women's swimming & diving roster by clicking this link.
Nikka Asgarian – Fy. – Diving – 5-1 – CC – Newport Beach, Calif. / Newport Harbor High School
Prior to Columbia:
A diver from Newport Beach, California … Competed in diving all four years at Newport Harbor High School … Four-time CIF Southern Section Division I finalist and helped lead the Sailors to four Sunset League team championships … Four-time Varsity Scholar-Athlete and Principal's Honor Roll recipient … AAU Synchronized Diving National Champion in 2023 … Four-time USA Diving Zones qualifier … Represented Team USA (AAU) at the 2025 international competition in Croatia, competing in the 1-meter, 3-meter, and platform events … Has competed in diving since 2017.
Personal:
Plans to major in economics at Columbia College … Member of the National Honor Society and recipient of the CTE Medallion for IB Business Management … Served on the governing board of the Assistance League of Newport-Mesa from 2023-26 … Enjoys hiking, skiing, and cooking.
Madeline Gau – Fy. – 5-9 – CC – Rochester, Minn. / Mayo High School / Rochester Swim Club
Prior to Columbia:
A swimmer from Rochester, Minn. … Competed for Mayo High School's girls swimming and diving team from seventh through 12th grade … Six-time MSHSL All-State selection and five-time All-Conference honoree … Three-time Mayo High School record holder … Earned All-America Academic recognition as a senior … Qualified for the Minnesota State Championships beginning in eighth grade, earning All-State honors in the 100-yard butterfly and 100-yard backstroke during her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons … Competed for Rochester Swim Club (formerly Orcas Swim) from 2013-26.
Personal:
Plans to major in psychology at Columbia College … Earned AP Scholar with Distinction honors and graduated with an Honors Diploma … Volunteered with the Rochester Art Center, Mayo WIN Room, and Teens Offering Peer Support … Has lived abroad in France, Spain, and Germany … Enjoys reading, camping, collaging, and acting.
Brisa Gao – Fy. – 5-7 – CC – Bellevue, Wash. / Lakeside School / King Aquatic Club
Prior to Columbia:
A swimmer from Bellevue, Wash. … Competed for Lakeside School's girls swimming and diving team during her freshman, junior, and senior seasons … Captured the Washington state championship in the 200-yard individual medley in 2025 and finished runner-up in the 100-yard freestyle … Named Lakeside Girls Swim and Dive Swimmer of the Year in 2025-26 and earned WIAA Athlete of the Week honors in 2025 … Scholastic All-American and Junior National Championships qualifier … Posted personal-best times of 2:01.07 in the 200-yard individual medley, 4:19.47 in the 400-yard individual medley, 1:58.90 in the 200-yard backstroke, and 23.31 in the 50-yard freestyle … Competed for King Aquatic Club from 2023-26.
Personal:
Plans to major in biology at Columbia College … Recipient of Lakeside School's 2025-26 101 Scholar-Athlete Award … Enjoys rockhounding, singing, and drawing.
Isabel Peng – So. – 5-3 – BC – Mercer Island, Wash. / Mercer Island High School / Cornell
Prior to Columbia:
A sophomore transfer swimmer from Mercer Island, Wash. … Joins Columbia after spending her first collegiate season at Cornell University … Competed for three years at Mercer Island High School, helping lead the Islanders to Washington state championships in 2022 and 2023 … Also competed in club swimming from 2016-25 … Earned AP Scholar with Distinction honors.
Personal:
Plans to major in biology at Barnard College … Enjoys learning languages, cooking, and community outreach.
Katie Shaps – Fy. – Butterfly/Freestyle – 5-3 – CC – Charlottesville, Va. / St. Anne's-Belfield School / NOVA of Virginia
Prior to Columbia:
A butterfly and freestyle swimmer from Charlottesville, Va. … Four-year varsity swimmer at St. Anne's-Belfield School … Scholastic All-American and Winter Junior Nationals qualifier … Posted two All-America consideration times … Finished second in the 100-yard butterfly and third in the 500-yard freestyle at the 2026 VISAA State Championships after earning third-place finishes in the 200-yard freestyle and 500-yard freestyle in 2025 … Seven-time NCSA finalist … Ranked among the USA Swimming Top 50 in the 200-yard butterfly for 16-year-olds in 2025 … Selected to USA Swimming's Eastern Zone Select Camp in 2023 … Competed for Cavalier Aquatics (2016-22), ACAC (2022-23), BASS (2023-24), and NOVA of Virginia (2024-present).
Personal:
Plans to attend Columbia College … Completed 60 hours of community service in high school, volunteering as a swim coach and swim meet timer, supporting the Rivanna Conservation Alliance, and serving as a Gold Key Ambassador at St. Anne's-Belfield School … Has competed in swimming for 10 years … Enjoys dancing, traveling, and exploring … Father played lacrosse at Skidmore College.
Romy Kirby – Fy. – Backstroke – 5-5 – CC – Palo Alto, Calif. / Palo Alto High School / Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics
Prior to Columbia:
A backstroke swimmer from Palo Alto, Calif. … Four-year swimmer at Palo Alto High School … Earned All-America recognition and the All-America Academic Award … Holds the SCVAL record in the 100-yard backstroke … Recipient of the 2026 Palo Alto High School Coaches Award and the Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics Coaches Award … Named Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics' Most Improved swimmer in 2023 … Competed for Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics from 2015-26 … Has been swimming competitively for 13 years.
Personal:
Plans to major in psychology at Columbia College … Recipient of the English Excellence Award in 2025 and the Early Childhood Development Award in 2026 … Enjoys line dancing, babysitting, and fostering dogs … Father, Ronald, played basketball at Dalhousie University.
Mary Bao – Fy. – Breaststroke – 5-7 – CC – Shanghai, China / Peddie School / Peddie Aquatic Association
Prior to Columbia:
A breaststroke swimmer from Shanghai, China … Three-year varsity swimmer at the Peddie School who also competed in varsity track and field as a senior … Served as team captain during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons … Speedo Junior Nationals qualifier and Academic All-American in 2023-24 … Earned NISCA All-America honors in 2024-25 … Holds the school records in the 100-yard breaststroke and the 200-yard medley relay … Competed for Peddie Aquatic Association from 2023-26.
Personal:
Undecided on a major at Columbia College … Earned AP Scholar with Distinction honors and received a National Merit Scholarship Corporation School Recognition Award … Volunteered with Falcon Swim Outreach, providing free swim lessons to children in the local community … Enjoys running, baking, and photography.
Maebelle Stern – Fy. – Distance Freestyle – 5-7 – CC – Annapolis, Md. / Key School / Annapolis Swim Club
Prior to Columbia:
A distance freestyle swimmer from Annapolis, Md. … Four-year varsity swimmer at Key School, serving as team captain during her junior season … Named the 2023 Annapolis Swim Club Performer of the Year … Four-time All-Conference (IAAM) selection and earned All-Anne Arundel County Honorable Mention honors in 2026 … Posted personal-best times of 1:52.72 in the 200-yard freestyle, 4:58.35 in the 500-yard freestyle, and 17:11.73 in the 1,650-yard freestyle … Competed for Annapolis Swim Club from 2014-26.
Personal:
Plans to major in biology at Columbia College … Earned AP Scholar with Honors recognition and was named a National Merit Scholarship Commended Scholar … Enjoys pottery and baking … Mother, Kirra Brandon, competed in swimming at Harvard.
Angelina Lu – Fy. – Sprint Backstroke/Freestyle – 5-5 – CC – Cary, N.C. / Green Hope High School / Raleigh Swimming Association
Prior to Columbia:
A sprint backstroke and freestyle swimmer from Cary, N.C. … Four-year varsity swimmer at Green Hope High School … Two-time NCHSAA State Championship individual finalist in the 100-yard backstroke and 100-yard butterfly … Helped lead the Falcons to the 2025 NCHSAA 4A State Championship in the 200-yard freestyle relay … Four-time NCHSAA 4A Central Regional Championships finalist … Futures Championships qualifier and Eastern Southern Sectionals and NC State Championships finalist … Earned Scholastic All-American honors in 2025 … Competed for Raleigh Swimming Association from 2015-26.
Personal:
Plans to major in biology on the pre-med track at Columbia College … Graduated summa cum laude with a 4.60 weighted GPA and 4.0 unweighted GPA … Two-time AP Scholar with Distinction and ranked 43rd in a class of 521 … Named a 2024 NC HOSA Physical Therapy Top 10 Finalist … Earned multiple Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, including a 2026 National Silver Key and Regional Gold Key … Volunteers with Color for a Cause, Global Medical Brigades, the NC Swimming Athlete Committee, and the Women's Shelter Support Club … Enjoys art, painting, sewing, content creation, and reading … Has swam with Raleigh Swimming Association for 12 years.
Audrey Schroeder – Fy. – 5-7 – Free/Back/Fly – West Chester, Pa. / Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School / Upper Main Line YMCA
Prior to Columbia:
A swimmer from West Chester, Pennsylvania. … Competed for Owen J. Roberts High School's girls swimming and diving team from 2022-26, serving as varsity captain … Three-time PIAA State Championships qualifier and finalist … Qualified for the Speedo Junior National Championships and the USA Open Water Swimming Championships in the 5K … Placed third in the 100-meter butterfly and 50-meter butterfly and ninth in the 100-meter backstroke at YMCA Long Course Nationals … Four-time Upper Main Line YMCA team record holder in the 100-yard backstroke, 200-yard backstroke, 200-yard butterfly, and 500-yard freestyle … Competed for Upper Main Line YMCA from 2022-26.
Personal:
Plans to major in economics-political science at Columbia College … United States Presidential Scholar nominee and Coca-Cola Scholars semifinalist … Served as National Student Council Secretary, representing more than 3 million students nationwide in education advocacy … Also served as secretary of the Pennsylvania Association of Student Councils and PALCS Student Council … Qualified for the FBLA National Leadership Conference and was an Odyssey of the Mind World Finalist … Worked as a self-employed swim instructor and volunteered as an SAT tutor and at local community events … Daughter of former Columbia student-athletes Colleen Schroeder (women's basketball, 1995-97) and Theodore Schroeder (football, 1995-99) … Enjoys reading, writing, photography, creative media, and traveling.
KEEPING UP WITH THE LIONS
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.
