BATON ROUGE — More than a week away from facing defending national champion Auburn, the LSU swimming and diving team continues its preparations at 3 p.m. Friday with the 18th annual Purple and Gold Intrasquad at the LSU Natatorium.
The split squads have been selected by the athletes and will compete in a 16-event format. Assistant coach Anne Shawhan guides the Purple team, while graduate assistant Matt Leach will oversee the Gold team.
Purple has displayed its dominance in the meet over the past several years, having won two straight intrasquads and seven of its last 11 dating back to 1995. The Gold team last won in 2002 by a score of 223-202. Last season, Purple staked its claim again with a convincing 248-195 showing.
Head coach Adam Schmitt explained that the intrasquad has become a positive influence on the team in building camaraderie and knowing what events each athlete will swim in as the season goes on.
“They have selected their teams and have to think like coaches think,” said Schmitt. “That allows them to know what we have to do in order to prepare them for a meet. It builds team bonding to see who has the pride to win this.”
Captains Hali Saucier and Kevin Braud lead the Purple squad and will be joined by Katherine Noland and Miko Malberg. Noland was voted the team’s most valuable swimmer last spring after posting a stellar freshman campaign which saw her earn All-America honors in the 200 freestyle relay.
Fellow relay team members Katie Gilmore and Colleen Bertirotti are slated to participate on the Gold led by captains Joe Veron and Melissa Stanley. Julius Gloeckner, LSU’s record holder in the 400 individual medley, is also a member of the Gold squad and will be joined by divers Andrew Keane, Kalister Harmon and Paige Brown.
“I am looking forward to stepping back and watching to see where people can fit in for next week’s meet at Auburn,” added Schmitt. “People are still fighting for positions on the squad to see what events they can swim. It is a good proving ground.”
The LSU men turned in a hard-fought performance in a season-opening loss to No. 2 Stanford on Sept. 15. However, Friday’s meet will be the first chance for the women to compete in a meet-like setting.
Both squads travel to No. 1 Auburn for a dual against the Tigers on Oct. 6 at 3 p.m.