BATON ROUGE — The LSU swimming and diving team concluded its preparations for next week’s tilt against No. 1 Auburn on Friday as Purple won its fourth straight Purple and Gold Intrasquad by a score of 304.5-261.5 at the LSU Natatorium.
The Gold men’s team edged the Purple women’s squad, 146.5-133.5. However, Purple made up the difference and more with a convincing 171-115 showing on the women’s side led by three winning swims from sophomore Katherine Noland.
Purple, led by assistant coach Anne Shawhan, has now captured eight out of the last 12 intrasquads dating back to 1995.
“It feels great to continue the Purple team’s dominance,” said Shawhan. “I would have to give it to the captains (Kevin Braud and Hali Saucier). They picked these teams and did a great job all around.”
Purple jumped out to an early lead and coasted to wins in the first two events, including both heats of the 400 medley relay. Junior Clare Schepens then posted a solid early-season time in winning the 1000 freestyle over Gold team captain Melissa Stanley (10:28.48).
Noland collected the first of her three wins in the 50 free (23.74) and later took first in the 100 free (51.69) and 100 butterfly (57.65).
“I was really excited to find out that I was on Purple again this year because I wanted to keep the tradition going of winning,” said Noland. “I wanted to see if I could better myself from last week and have some fun.”
Purple continued to put pressure on Gold after finishing 1-2 in both heats of the 100 and 200 backstroke. Sophomore Berit Aljand swept both events on the women’s side with times of 59.66 and 2:08.59, respectively. Braud was a double-winner as well, winning the 200 back (1:53.60) and 100 back (52.11).
Talented freshman Signe Larson added to Purple’s tally with a pair of wins in the 100 and 200 breaststroke with times of 1:06.34 and 2:22.33, respectively. Fellow freshman Lauren Grandy edged Schepens in the 500 free with a clocking of 5:10.31.
Junior Miko Malberg and sophomore Conner Farber finished off an exciting 100 free as both touched the wall at 47.78 to split the points.
Though, Gold did have its bright spots on Friday behind multiple winners Julius Gloeckner, Will Rivers and Sarah Dicharry.
Rivers, one of the top high school distance freestyle swimmers last season, took the 500 free (4:46.01) and cruised his way to victory in the 1000 free (9:50.46).
Dicharry topped freshman Lauren Grandy in the 200 free (1:53.85). The sophomore also won the 200 individual medley over fellow Tulane transfer Victoria Givens (2:11.69).
Gloeckner was victorious in the 200 fly (1:52.83), 200 breaststroke (2:07.30) and 200 IM (1:54.20). Farber won the 200 free (1:45.90) and sophomore Roy Chambers took home the 100 breaststroke (1:01.74).
Stanley closed out the 200 fly with a winning swim over Schepens (2:17.59).
Divers Hali Saucier and Rachel Ware secured 1-2 finishes in both women’s diving events for the Purple squad. Saucier swept both events with a score of 285.83 in the 1-meter and 303.60 in the 3-meter.
Sophomore Nathan Schreiber of the Gold team swept both men’s events by scores of 313.28 (1-meter) and 331.13 (3-meter).
“I just did what I normally do in practice,” said Schreiber. “The goal is to train and do well in conference. Doug (Shaffer) has us on the right path, so we can use this as a stepping stone for next week.”
LSU travels to defending national champion Auburn for a dual-meet next Friday, Oct. 6 at 3 p.m.