TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — After breaking for the holidays, the LSU swimming team returns to dual-meet action at 1 p.m. Saturday with a conference tilt against Alabama and Kentucky from the Alabama Aquatic Center.
The Tigers last official event was the Texas A&M Invitational last November. LSU’s men’s team took third place in the event, while the women finished fifth.
Alabama’s men’s squad enters the dual with a No. 22 ranking in the latest collegeswimming.com poll. The Tide is looking for its first SEC meet win after suffering losses to familiar foes Auburn and Tennessee. Auburn swept Alabama in its last meet on Nov. 18.
Kentucky faces Georgia in Athens, before traveling to Tuscaloosa for Saturday’s double-dual. The Wildcats are coming off of a sweep of Clemson on Tuesday. The UK men enter the weekend ranked No. 18 in the polls.
For the Tigers, it will be their third dual of the season and all three have come against ranked opponents. It is a philosophy head coach Adam Schmitt and his staff have initiated in order to prepare the team for the championship season that awaits in the spring.
“This is primarily a meet to see where we are in our conference,” said Schmitt. “It certainly foreshadows what we will see at the SEC Championships in February.”
LSU returned to training on Monday after the Christmas and New Year break. After five quality training sessions, the squad looks to build on its previous results
“The kids have come back refreshed after spending some quality time with their families after a rough semester,” added Schmitt. “We have been able to get some good, hard work in after the semester was pushed back.”
Sophomore sprinter Miko Malberg brings in the nation’s 17th-fastest time in the 100 freestyle (44.19). Malberg has won at least one event in all three of the Tigers’ meets this season. Teammate Kevin Braud is 20th in the nation in the 200 backstroke (1:46.62) and 28th in the 100 back (49.15).
On the women’s side, Colleen Bertirotti currently owns the country’s 44th-best time in the 50 free (23.31).
Saturday’s dual follows a normal, 13-event format. Diving points will be calculated from each teams’ preliminary results at the Georgia Diving Invitational in Athens.