BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — LSU sophomore swimmer Julius Gloeckner was named Southeastern Conference Male Swimmer of the Week, the league office announced on Wednesday.
Gloeckner, a native of Freiburg, Germany, led the 25th-ranked LSU men’s team to an upset over No. 10 Florida State last Friday at the LSU Natatorium. He recorded three individual victories and helped the Tigers take first place in a relay.
In a meet that came down to the final race, LSU needed to take first place in the final two events of the meet — the 200 individual medley and the 200 freestyle relay. The Tigers got it when Gloeckner cruised to victory in the 200 individual medley (1:52.45).
With little rest, the sophomore finished off the meet with the final 50 yards of the 200 free relay as LSU defeated the Seminoles by nearly two seconds (1:22.30) to pull the upset.
Gloeckner also won the 200 free (1:40.18) and the 200 butterfly (1:49.95) giving the Tigers their first dual-meet win over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 16 Kentucky during the 2001-02 season. It also marked the first win for the program over a Top 10 team since LSU upended No. 8 Miami (Fla.), 61-52, in Coral Gables on Jan. 11, 1997.
Gloeckner becomes the first LSU men’s swimmer to receive the award since Evan Martinec did so on Jan. 26, 2004. In just two seasons, he has shattered one school record and posted five other school all-time top-five times.
Gloeckner and the rest of the Tigers return to action this Saturday at noon as LSU travels to College Station, Texas, to face Texas A&M.