BATON ROUGE — Facing its fifth ranked opponent of the year in dual-meet competition, the LSU swimming and diving team resumes its season as it plays host to Florida State at 10 a.m. Friday from the LSU Natatorium.
The 25th-ranked LSU men go up against a Seminole team that is ranked 10th in the latest Collegiate Swim Coaches Association of America poll, while the LSU women welcome the No. 7 Florida State women.
“Florida State is a very good team,” said head coach Adam Schmitt. “It is a team that we have to look at to see where we can be at in a year or two to start competing at that level. They will give us the best they have, and we will do the same.”
LSU spent the holiday break training for a week in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., a trip Schmitt said has benefited the squad as the championship season draws closer.
“We had an opportunity to train everyday from 10 a.m. until noon and then from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at night, which actually coincides with the times we swim at the SEC Championships,” said Schmitt. “It has allowed us to adapt to when we need to swim fast.”
Friday’s dual will be the first for the men’s team since entering the CSCAA Top 25 for the first time since the 2000-01 season. The Tigers last competed when they won the Art Adamson Invitational in College Station, Texas, last November.
Prior to the meet, LSU will honor five seniors for their performance and dedication to the program for the past four years, including two divers.
Hali Saucier has enjoyed a phenomenal career at LSU highlighted by her academic accolades. Saucier, a native of Gig Harbor, Wash., was named LSU Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year last spring. This season, Saucier has won 11 of the 15 events she has participated, and she shattered the 3-meter school record with a score of 340.35 against No. 2 Florida on Nov. 9.
Andrew Keane has been dominant throughout his career in platform competition as he was the Tigers’ highest finisher in the event at the 2006 NCAA Zone B Regional. This year, the Normandy Park, Wash., native has been the Tigers’ highest platform finisher at the Art Adamson and Georgia Tech Invitationals. His second-place score at College Station helped the Tigers secure the overall team title.
“Hali and Andrew were my first recruiting class when I came to LSU,” said diving coach Doug Shaffer. “They’ve been ideal student-athletes that have represented LSU academically and athletically for a solid four years. I couldn’t be happier then to have had the opportunity to work with them.”
Colleen Bertirotti has been one of the most valuable sprint freestyle swimmers in school history. She is currently second all-time in the Lady Tigers’ 50 free event (23.04), and she also holds school records in the 200 and 400 free relays and 200 medley relay.
Bertirotti, a native of San Antonio, Texas, guided LSU to an honorable mention All-America finish in the 200 free relay at the 2006 NCAA Championships.
Melissa Stanley has served as a team co-captain on the squad this season. Stanley, a native of Spring, Texas, has been named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll three times during her career, and she has been one of the Lady Tigers’ standout swimmers in butterfly and individual medley.
Slidell, La., native Chris Cloutet will also be recognized on Friday. Cloutet has helped LSU in distance free and fly action, and he has competed at the SEC Championships three times during his career.
“The seniors have added some leadership to this very young team,” said Schmitt. “They can go away feeling good about what they’ve contributed to help build this team. They are cornerstones in helping this program get in the right direction.”
Friday’s dual marks the return of Florida State head coach Neil Harper. Harper, one of 12 Olympians in LSU history, was teammates with Schmitt on the Tigers’ only SEC championship team in 1988. Harper was a seven-time All-American for LSU and later served as an assistant coach for the Tigers for six seasons.
Meanwhile, current LSU assistant coach Anne Shawhan earned five All-America honors as a swimmer at Florida State from 1997-2000. Shawhan served as an assistant coach for the Seminoles for three seasons in which she helped the team produce four Olympians and several school record holders.