COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The LSU swimming and diving teams wrapped up a four-meet road trip on Saturday and in the process were defeated by Texas A&M in front of a record crowd of 500 at the Student Rec Center Natatorium.
The LSU men (0-6) fell to the 18th-ranked Aggies by a score of 153-123, while the LSU women (1-6) lost to the No. 10 Aggie women, 167-121. The Aggie men captured 14 of 16 events, while sweeping both relay and diving events.
Freshman Miko Malberg was a double winner for the second consecutive day, blowing by four experienced Texas A&M sprinters to take first place in the men’s 50 freestyle (20.48). He later collected a victory in the 100 butterfly (50.32). Malberg, who was victorious in the 50 and 100 free at TCU on Friday, also finished runner-up in the 100 free with a time of 45.64.
Ryan Cochran was second in the men’s 200 butterfly with a time of 1:54.40.
Senior Myles Jaynes delivered a quality distance swim in the 500 free, winning with a time of 4:50.76. Jaynes took first-place honors in the 400 individual medley, as well (4:10.19).
Lauren Harvey earned a trio of second-place finishes on the day. The senior nearly defeated A&M’s Danielle Townsend in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:04.26. Harvey was also second in the 100 free (52.34.) and 200 breaststroke (2:22.16).
Jessica Wantz swept both women’s diving events for the fourth consecutive meet and continues to stake her claim at one of the best season’s in LSU diving history. Wantz, competing nearly two hours northwest of her hometown of Houston, won the 1-meter over teammate Hali Saucier with a score of 303.97 and was victorious in the 3-meter with a mark off 298.50.
Saucier nearly halted Wantz’ winning streak in the 3-meter, falling less than two points shy of a win with a score of 296.85.
Niko Dalman was LSU’s highest finisher in men’s diving, posting a second-place score of 281.25 in the 1-meter. Andrew Keane placed third in the 3-meter with a mark of 288.08.
The Tigers return to the LSU Natatorium next weekend when the women compete against Rice and Houston on Friday at 4 p.m. The LSU men close their dual season at home against Delta State and UL-Monroe on Saturday at 2 p.m.