Category: Rutgers athletics

Rutgers track and field adds Madsion Stevens

Rutgers track and field adds another solid recruit.

For Rutgers field and track, the future got a little brighter on Thursday. Madison Stevens announced that she had committed to Rutger on social media. She will bring an impressive resume to Piscataway and provide a boost to the track and field program.

The New York native is one the best in the state as she took second place in the girl’s shot put at the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association’s track and field Meet. It marked the second straight year that she finished second in the event. Stevens also took sixth place in the championship finals of the girl’s shot put at the Nike Indoor Nationals in May.

As Stevens prepares for the next step of her career, excitement is building for what she will accomplish at Piscataway. During her high school career, the Columbia High School product regularly finished in the top ten of major events.

Additionally, she is joining a program with his expectations. However, it is a situation she is ready for, and she did not hide her excitement on social media.

 

In a post on her Twitter account, Stevens said, ” I am excited to announce that I have committed to Rutgers to further my academic Track & Field career. Thank you for the great opportunity, Coach Cocci and Coach Farrell. Thank you to my parents, coaches, family, and friends for being the best support system.”

Rutgers fall sports has uneven week

During the fall season, Rutgers fans have had plenty to cheer about.

During the fall season, Rutgers fans have had plenty to cheer about. Football and field hockey have gotten off to a combined 11-0 mark with no signs of slowing. That is an encouraging sign for Rutgers, as both programs had their fair share of struggles last year. While they have impressed, they are not the only Rutgers programs that have stood out.

Women’s volleyball has also been a winning machine. They have lost two straight matches, but the Scarlet Knights have already surpassed their win total from last year and have the program going in the right direction.

Over the next week, Rutgers sports will look to get back to continue its recent success. However, that will not be an easy task as Rutgers football heads to Ann Arbor to take on the second-best team in the country. Regardless of what happens over the next week, Rutgers fans have plenty to look forward to.

Scroll down and check out how Rutgers sports have been doing this fall!

Rutgers fall sports off to a solid start

For Rutgers fans, the last few weeks have been full of excitement and winning, with fall sports back in action.

For Rutgers fans, the last few weeks have been full of excitement with fall sports back in action. Football was the latest sport to kick off its season on Sunday as they welcomed Northwestern to SHI Stadium. The Scarlet Knights did not disappoint and beat Northwestern in dominating fashion, holding the Wildcats to one touchdown. However, they are just one team off to a successful start.

After struggling last year, Rutgers volleyball has won five of their first six matches. Heading into play on Thursday, field hockey was also undefeated through the first few weeks of their season.

While the fall season is just starting, the last few weeks have created plenty of excitement in Piscataway. It is just the start of what could be an unforgettable sports season for Scarlet Knights fans.

Scroll down and check out how Rutgers sports have been doing this fall!

Rutgers Athletics announces new partnership for the Boardwalk with New Jersey Travel and Tourism

The Rutgers football Boardwalk has a sponsor for the 2023 season.

Monday marked an exciting day for Rutgers. With the start of the college football season underway, Rutgers Athletics announced its newest partnership with the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism. During the 2023 campaign the Rutgers Boardwalk will be presented by VisitNJ.org.

Along with the Rutgers boardwalk, the Miller Lite Beer Garden will return for the 2023 season. Scarlet Way will be filled with the top food trucks in New Jersey, carnival games, a petting zoo, and live entertainment at each home game.

Additionally, the Rutgers Boardwalk will be home to a pregame parade and pep rally. The festivities will feature the Marching Scarlet Knights, Spirit Team, the Scarlet Knight, and his horse “Excalibur,” plus the 2023 Scarlet Knights at the football team’s arrival.

The Rutgers Boardwalk will open four hours before the start of every home game. Some of the themes this year include the Sept. 16 food truck festival, Sept. 30 Pizza Fest, and food truck trick-or-treating on Oct. 14. As fans get ready for each home game, VisitNJ.org will be helping Rutgers Athletics provide the best gameday experience.

The Scarlet Knights will open their season on September third at SHI Stadium against Northwestern. It is the first time in program history that Rutgers will face a Big Ten opponent at home to start a season since joining the conference.

Rutgers athletics hires Reed Zak to lead NIL

Reed Zak is an addition to Rutgers football on the NIL side.

Thursday marked an exciting day for Rutgers athletics as they look to grow their brand. The Scarlet Knights announced that Reed Zak will serve as General Manager for NIL. He will oversee the department’s efforts in name, image and likeness opportunities for its student-athletes.

Zak joins the Scarlet Knights after two years as sales manager with REVELxp. He oversaw hospitality sales at Colorado State, Arizona State and Air Force home football games. During his tenure, Zak set records at CSU and ASU with the most tailgate packages sold in a single season. For the New Jersey native, this is also a homecoming.

While part of Zak’s new role will be growing the Rutgers brand outside of New Jersey, that is only part of his new role. He will also be tasked with increasing awareness among business leaders in the New Jersey community. Many in Piscataway, including Athletic Director Pat Hobbs, are looking forward to the impact Zak will have.

“As a New Jersey native, it’s an honor and privilege for me to work alongside Rutgers Athletics,” Zak told Rutgers Athletics. “The tri-state region offers abundant NIL opportunities for Scarlet Knight student-athletes, and the entire Rutgers team acknowledges the advantage this provides in maintaining competitiveness within the Big Ten.”

 

” We are delighted to welcome Reed aboard,” said Hobbs. “He is part of our continuing efforts to ensure that our student-athletes have every opportunity to benefit from their name, image and likeness. ”

With Zak on board, Rutgers is in good hands.

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Rutgers is now part of the newly formed ‘Central Jersey’

Rutgers now falls within the scope of what is legally called ‘Central Jersey.’

Rutgers University, long on the border of northern New Jersey and southern New Jersey, finally has a home. That’s because Rutgers now exists in the newly created ‘Central Jersey.’

With legislation signed on Thursday, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy declared the middle part of the state as ‘Central Jersey. ‘Four counties make up the legally defined ‘Central Jersey’: Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset.

Rutgers- New Brunswick, located in Middlesex County, now falls within the confines of ‘Central Jersey.’

For years, New Jersey had been divided between the two great poles on either end of the state: New York City to the north and Philadelphia in the south. Now due to the governor’s legislation, the middle part of the state has a legal status.

And while the age-old question of ‘Does Central Jersey exist?’ is definitively settled, the legislation does help draw attention to this oft-overlooked part of the state

 


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No word on whether ‘Central Jersey’ is legally obliged to call it ‘Pork Roll’ or ‘Taylor Ham’…although Rutgers football head coach Greg Schiano has already weighed in on this.

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Rutgers Women’s Swimming & Diving adds two-time All-American to coaching staff

Two-time All-American Kevin Steel will be the new assistant coach for Rutgers swimming and diving.

As Rutgers women’s swimming and diving looks to build on their success, they added to their coaching staff on Wednesday. The Scarlet Knights announced that former two-time All-American Kevin Steel will be the new assistant coach. Steel brings an impressive resume to Piscataway, and his addition is already creating excitement.

“I feel blessed to have someone of Kevin’s coaching pedigree believe in what we are doing here at Rutgers,” head coach Jon Macoll told Rutgers athletics. “He’s a Jersey guy coming home from coaching at the University of Virginia and a former swimmer at the University of Arizona. I believe Kevin will have an immediate and positive impact on our women here at Rutgers.”

Steel will start his career as a Scarlet Knight after spending last season as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Virginia. During his only year in Charlottesville, the Cavaliers won their third-consecutive NCAA title. Before that, Steel was a volunteer assistant swim coach and assistant strength and conditioning coach at Kenyon College.

While Steel has had an impressive coaching career, he rewrote the record books as a college athlete. The New Jersey native was on the 2013 USA World Championship team and twice broke the U.S. Open 50 breaststroke record. He also earned second place in the 100 breaststroke at the 2013 NCAA championships.

The University of Arizona graduate will bring his experience to a program that recorded its highest Big Ten Championship point total in 2023. The Scarlet Knights also reached the Big Ten podium six times.

Although the future was already bright for Rutgers Women’s Swimming & Diving, success has followed Steel everywhere he’s been, with Piscataway the next stop.

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Rutgers continues it’s dominance at the U23 World Rowing Championships

Rutgers had a great showing at the U23 Rowing World Championships.

Rutgers fans have plenty to celebrate with the U23 World Championships in the books. The Scarlet Knights were represented by Victoria Greider and Hannah Heideveld, who left Bulgaria with gold. For the Scarlet Knights, it was a continuation of dominance.

Rutgers has now had representation and a medalist at the U23 World Championships every year dating back to 2018. This was the second consecutive year they had two world champions. Over the last five years, Scarlet Knights athletes have won six gold medals.

That list of athletes includes Sarah Johanek, Ella Toa, and Femke Paulis. Heidevel and Greider followed in their footsteps by playing crucial roles in the United States women’s eight.

After getting off to a quick lead in the final on Saturday afternoon, the U.S. was dead even with Germany as the crews passed the 500-meter mark. However, that’s precisely where the U.S. wanted them. With the help of Heidevel and Greider, the U.S. was able to retake the lead by the midway point of the race.

When the final whistle blew, the U.S. was in first after holding off Germany and Canada. For Heidevel and Greider, it was a moment of glory years in the making. They now return to Rutgers with another award added to their impressive list of accolades.

Hannah Heideveld proving to be key piece for Rutgers women’s rowing

Hannah Heidevel is showcasing well for Rutgers rowing.

Over the last few weeks, Hannah Heideveld has given Rutgers plenty of reasons to celebrate. On Sunday, the Netherlands native was named to the Pocock All-America Team for the 2023 season. This season, she was also named an All-American for the second time in her collegiate career.

The talented junior is part of the Rutgers Varsity 8, which placed 14th in the nation at the 2023 NCAA Championships. They also finished second in the C final on the final day of the national regatta. Due to her performance, Heideveld earned her second consecutive All-Big Ten First Team honor this spring.

Additionally, Heideveld is the twelfth Rutgers athlete to earn the Pocock All-America honor under head coach Justin Price. Eleven of those have come in the past four years. However, for Heideveld, her success does not stop there.

She was also awarded the 2023 Competitive Excellence Award at the Rutgers Chancellor-Provost’s Student Leadership Awards Gala. Her focus now shifts to the global stage as Heideveld will represent Team USA at the U23 World Rowing Championships from July 19-23.

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While Heideveld’s Rutgers career is far from over, her impact has been on full display this season. She has added to an impressive list of accolades and helped take the Rutgers rowing program to new heights. As the Scarlet Knights have won four consecutive NCAA Championships, Heideveld has been key to their success and still has a few chapters left to write in her story at Piscataway.

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Two Scarlet Knights to Represent United States at U23 World Rowing Championships

Two from Rutgers rowing will participate at the 2023 World Rowing Under 23 Championships.

At the 2023 World Rowing Under 23 Championships, Rutgers will be well represented. Two Scarlet Knights, Victoria Grieder and Hannah Heideveld, have earned spots on the United States Rowing Team. The championships will occur from July 19-23 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

For Grieder & Heideveld, this is not the first time they will display their talent on the global stage. Heideveld is making her second appearance with the U23 U.S. National Team after claiming a gold medal with the women’s eight in 2022 in Italy. Grieder returns to the U.S. National Team after winning a gold medal at the 2021 World Rowing Junior Championships.

The pair of Scarlet Knight teammates head to Bulgaria following an impressive 2023 season. They led Rutgers to its fourth consecutive NCAA Championship, finishing 15th in the country. Grieder coxed the Rutgers 2nd Varsity 8 to a bronze medal at the Big Ten Championships, and Heideveld earned her second consecutive All-Big Ten First Team honor racing with the Varsity 8.

Additionally, Greider will, in a way, be making history. The Florida native becomes the sixth Rutgers rower trained and developed by Scarlet Knights’ head coach to appear in the U23 World Championships. She joins Femke Paulis, Karin Brandner, Sarah Johanek, and Ella Toa.

The World Rowing Championships is one of the top events in the rowing world, as nearly 1,000 of the best rowers under the age of 23 set out for glory in the final weeks of July.