KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Five months of preparation with the toughest schedule in school history had led the LSU swimming and diving team to its championship season, which begins Wednesday at the SEC Championships in Knoxville, Tenn.
The four-day meet begins at noon with the preliminaries of the 200 medley relay and 800 freestyle relay. Women’s 1-meter diving is slated to start at 1 p.m. followed by the men’s 3-meter portion at 3 p.m. Finals culminate the day’s four events at 5 p.m.
Tennessee’s Student Aquatic Center plays host to the event that was sold out last week. It marks the final meet held at the popular venue as the Volunteers move into a new state-of-the-art facility in December 2007.
The LSU women enter the meet after a 6-5 dual-meet season, highlighted by wins over Alabama on Jan. 7 and competitive competitions against No. 2 Auburn, No. 4 Florida and No. 13 Texas A&M.
The Lady Tigers capped their season by setting a new pool and school record in the 200 free relay versus Tulane on Feb. 3. The group of Katherine Noland, Colleen Bertirotti, Katie Gilmore and Heather Brand enter the meet with the top seed in the event after posting a clocking of 1:31.52.
Bertirotti had the fastest split of the race (22.19) and then won her only individual event of the day, the 50 free. For her efforts, Bertirotti was named SEC Swimmer of the Week.
The women have also been led by four talented divers. Junior Hali Saucier will be competing in her third SEC meet, and Paige Brown returns for a second shot at finals in the 1-meter, 3-meter and platform.
“We have prepared well given our circumstances throughout the season,” said diving coach Doug Shaffer. “If I look back a year ago, every person on the team has gotten better. Obviously, from that standpoint, I feel we are going to do better than what we did last year.”
Saucier, who qualified for all three finals last year, earned her highest finish in the platform by taking sixth (362.40). The junior also placed seventh in both the 1-meter and 3-meter.
“She comes in with that experience and that is huge confidence,” said Shaffer. “Having been a triple finalist as a sophomore and then coming back for a year of training, just adds to that.”
On the men’s team, Niko Dalman is in search of a sophomore run after narrowly missing finals last year. A month later, Dalman would put it together and earn All-America honors in the 1-meter at the NCAA Championships. He then went on to be named SEC Freshman Diver of the Year.
“Niko is 10 times the value he was at this point last year,” said Shaffer. “I would definitely look for him to make a sophomore run like Hali did last year.”
Team co-captain Andrew Keane aims for a finals’ finish in the platform after placing ninth last season.
Three Tiger swimmers that reached finals’ heats last season return, including Miko Malberg, Kevin Braud and Matt Coenen.
Malberg owns the team’s top times this season in the 50 free, 100 free, and 100 fly. Braud is expected to be a serious threat in both backstroke events, beginning with the 100 back on Friday.
The LSU men closed its dual season on Jan. 21 against Texas A&M.
2006 SEC Championships
UT Student Aquatic Center
Knoxville, Tenn.
Wednesday’s Schedule of Events
Noon 200 Medley Relay Time Trial
800 Freestyle Relay Time Trial
1 p.m. Women’s 1-Meter Diving Prelims
3 p.m. Men’s 3-Meter Diving Prelims
5 p.m. Women’s 1-Meter Diving Finals
6 p.m. 200 Medley Relay Timed Final
Men’s 3-Meter Diving Finals
800 Freestyle Relay Timed Final