COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Fresh off a split of Top-10 ranked Florida State last weekend, the LSU swimming and diving team looks to continue its winning ways Saturday at noon as it faces Texas A&M in a dual meet at the Student Rec Center Natatorium.
The 25th-ranked LSU men’s team is coming off its most significant dual-meet victory since the 2001-02 season when the Tigers upended No. 16 Kentucky. It was also the squad’s first win over a Top-10 program since LSU defeated No. 8 Miami (Fla.) on Jan. 11, 1997.
Saturday’s dual is the final tilt for the men who then prepare for the SEC Championships, Feb. 2-10, in Lexington, Ky.
The LSU women’s team faces its second straight ranked opponent as the Aggies carry the No. 5 ranking into the contest. Last weekend, the Lady Tigers fought hard against the seventh-ranked Seminoles in Baton Rouge.
Leading the way was sophomore Katherine Noland who won the 200 freestyle (1:50.84). Noland also took runner-up honors in the 100 free, recording the eighth-best mark in the SEC this season with an NCAA provisional cut of 50.52.
Freshman diver Rachel Ware won the 3-meter springboard with a career-high mark of 323.63. Heading into the weekend that score ranks as the fifth-best mark in the SEC. Senior Hali Saucier still holds the league’s top 3-meter mark after posting a school record 340.35 against Florida on Nov. 9.
LSU earned more SEC recognition this week when sophomore Julius Gloeckner was named SEC Male Swimmer of the Week for his performance against FSU. Gloeckner racked up three individual victories and helped the Tigers ultimately clinch the meet with the final 50 yards of the 200 free relay (1:22.30).
Gloeckner became the first LSU men’s swimmer to receive the honor since former All-American Evan Martinec did so on Jan. 26, 2004.
Gloeckner and the Tigers look to continue their momentum against an A&M team that is coming off a championship at the UC-Irvine Relays. The trip to College Station is also LSU’s first since winning the Art Adamson Invitational last November.
The Tigers will be shooting for their first dual-meet victory over the Aggies since the 1996-97 season. LSU and A&M have competed every year since 1992-93.
Meanwhile, the Aggie women are looking to complete the first undefeated dual-meet season in school history. A&M is led by Big 12 Swimmer of the Year Codie Hansen and sophomore Triin Aljand. Aljand is the twin sister of current LSU sophomore swimmer Berit Aljand.