TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The LSU swimming and diving teams were defeated by Florida State on Friday afternoon, but the Lady Tiger women were victorious against Florida International in a double-dual meet at the Bobby E. Leach Center.
The Seminoles posted a 126-92 win over the LSU women and a 139-99 victory over the LSU men. Florida International, who only carries a women’s team, fell to the Lady Tigers by a score of 170-65.
Florida State, ranked No. 17 in the men’s collegeswimming.com poll and No. 21 in the women’s poll, captured 16 of the 26 events on the day.
“This was a good chance for the team to go on the road and challenge themselves,” said associate head coach Morgan Bailey.
After dropping the first two events, LSU responded with a victory in the first individual race as Clare Schepens captured the 1000 freestyle for the second time in as many meets. Schepens won with a five-second cushion, touching the wall with a final time of 10:17.39.
Miko Malberg, who was a double-winner last weekend against top-ranked Auburn, took first-place honors in the 50 free (20.65). Malberg later placed third in the 100 free (46.04).
Freshman Julius Gloeckner continued to shine in just his second collegiate meet. Gloeckner edged Danny Keeling of FSU to win the 200 individual medley at a clip of 1:52.64.
“The notable part was his charge home in the last 50 yards of the freestyle and doing so by coming from behind to win,” said Bailey.
Another standout freshman, Katherine Noland, won her first event of the season, placing first in the 200 butterfly (2:05.37). Team co-captain Heather Brand finished right behind Noland with a second-place time of 2:05.78.
Sophomore Mallory Neltner took second in the 200 back (2:05.12), and freshman Katie Gilmore was runner-up in the 100 free (51.95). Gilmore narrowly missed entering the school’s all-time top 10 with the clocking.
Three LSU divers left with NCAA Zone qualifying scores in just the second dual of the season. Hali Saucier qualified with her 1-meter winning tally of 255.20. Alyson Thomas was second with a score of 246.20.
Thomas, a freshman from Highland Village, Texas, earned her NCAA Zone mark in the 3-meter, finishing third (272.45).
Sophomore Niko Dalman picked up another win of his career with a 1-meter qualifying score of 302.75. Dalman was also the Tigers’ highest finisher in the 3-meter with a third-place tally of 295.35.
“We are pretty good for where we are at in the season,” said diving coach Doug Shaffer. “I liked a lot of things I saw relative to that. It’s all a learning experience, and at the end of the day, we can say that we walked away with three NCAA Zone qualifying spots.”
LSU returns to action at the Texas A&M Invitational, Nov. 18-20.