Swim Has Strong Opening Showing at Life U Invite

Marietta, Georgia- The Brenau swimming and diving team kicked off the 2025-26 season with a strong showing at the Life University Mini Invite Kickoff this past weekend. 

Sophomore Olga Bukowska had an outstanding individual showing by placing first in both the 200 freestyle (2:04.99) and the 500-yard freestyle (5:31.35), and added a third-place finish in the  200 fly (2:20.01). 

Fellow sophomore Sophie Bell also captured two individual wins by placing first in the 100 backstroke (1:02.13) and the 200 backstroke (2:14.47). The Atlanta, Ga. native also added a second-place mark in the 200-yard IM (2:19.69). 

Bell was also instrumental in the 200 medley relay squad's fourth-place finish in the 200 medley relay as she joined teammates Sofia Bellocchio, Adriana Oetzel, and Abigail Binns for a time of 1:55.50.

Bukowska also showed well in the relays as she and Ana Alves, Francesca Pastori, and Hannah Tomlinson placed third in the 200-yard freestyle relay. A second 200 freestyle relay team of Ariel Furhman, Erin Watterson, Manuela Horta, and Emily DiMaggio earned sixth place as well.  

Other Golden Tiger finishers include: 

1000 yard freestyle: Ariel Furhman, 2nd place, 11:44.63;  Sylvie Jacques, 4th place, 16:55.57;

200 freestyle: Abigail Binns, 3rd place, 2:07.57; Ana Alves, 4th place, 2:09.71; Emily DiMaggio, 7th place, 2:17.39;

100 backstroke: Sofia Bellocchio, 5th place, 1:05.15;

100 breaststroke: Hannah Tomlinson, 6th place, 1:16.42; Erin Watterson, 7th place, 1:17.59;  Adriana Oetzel, 9th place, 1:18.12;

200 butterfly: Nele Behrendt, fifth place, 2:23.81; Manuela Horta, 6th place, 2:32.88;

50 freestyle: Ana Alves, 3rd place, 26.56;  Francesca Pastori, 5th place, 26.97;  Emily DiMaggio, 6th place, 28.29; Erin Watterson, 7th place, 28.48; 

100 freestyle: Ana Alves, 4th place, 58.87;  Abigail Binns, 5th place, 59.02; 6th place, Sofia Bellocchio, 1:00.19, Emily DiMaggio, 8th place, 1:01.84; 

200 backstroke: Hannah Tomlinson, 2nd place, 2:19.53; Ariel Furhman, 3rd place, 2:20.38; Manuela Horta, 6th place, 2:30.73; 

200 breaststroke: Nele Behrendt, 4th place, 2:39.66; Erin Watterson, 6th place, 2:47.60; Adriana Oetzel, 7th place, 2:49.76;

500 freestyle: Ariel Furhman, 3rd place, 5:45.93; Abigail Binns, 4th place, 5:45.93; Sylvie Jacques, 8th place, 8:06.00;

100 butterfly: Francesca Pastori, 3rd place, 1:03.15; Sofia Bellocchio, 5th place, 1:03.80; Manuela Horta, 8th place, 1:08.21; Adriana Oetzel, 9th place, 1:20.20;

200 yard IM: Hannah Tomlinson, 4th place, 2:23.62;  Nele Behrendt, 5th place, 2:25.47; 

The squad next competes at the Sewanee Relay Meet, hosted by Sewanee: The University of the South, on Saturday.