TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The 17th-ranked LSU swimming and diving teams travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., this week for the Southeastern Conference Championships at the Alabama Aquatic Center Wednesday through Saturday.
Prelims begin at noon Wednesday with finals beginning at 6 p.m. Wednesday’s competition will showcase the 200 medley and 800 free relays, women’s 1-meter springboard and men’s 3-meter springboard.
At last year’s SEC Championships, three-time NCAA All-American Julius Gloeckner shattered an 11-year-old school record in the 200 butterfly, and the 23rd-ranked LSU men’s swimming and diving team earned its highest Southeastern Conference Championships’ finish since 2001 with sixth place at the Lancaster Aquatic Center.
The LSU women’s team also took sixth place, which is the Lady Tigers’ highest placing since finishing fifth in 2002. LSU accumulated 254.5 points on the women’s side.
Diver Paige Brown captured third place in the platform event to contribute to the Lady Tiger’s runner-up finish in the diving portion of the championships.
“This is the culmination of all of our hard work from the season,” said LSU head coach Adam Schmitt. “We hope to finish higher than we did last year and continue to move up in the SEC. We are looking to get some “A” and “B” cuts for our guys to qualify for NCAAs.
“Tomorrow we have some relay teams that have a good chance of getting NCAA times. I know our diver should perform well in events scheduled for tomorrow. We could walk off with some really good performances tomorrow night. It is going to be a fun night. I am just excited to get the event running and I know the team is ready. I look forward to seeing what happens this week.”
The LSU men’s squad enters the postseason with a 6-3 record. The Tigers capped off their regular season with an impressive 186-114 win over then No.17-ranked Texas A&M at the LSU Natatorium on Jan. 19.
They opened up the dual season in thrilling fashion by taking then second-ranked Stanford down to the final event with Stanford squeaking out with a 139-123 victory. The Tigers dominated their first SEC meet with a 204.5-94.5 win over South Carolina on Oct. 13. After falling to Georgia on Oct. 19, The Tigers went on to win their next four dual meets against Delta Sate, Alabama, Notre Dame and Florida State.
The Lady Tigers closed out the regular season with an 8-3 record and an impressive sweep over the Houston Cougars, 240-102, and the Rice Owls, 216-119, in a two-day meet in Houston at the end of January. The Lady Tigers began the dual season with an outstanding performance at South Carolina where they defeated the Gamecocks 164-136. They won five out of their next seven meets including a convincing 187-113 win over then 20th-ranked Florida State.
The diving squads are led by Doug Shafer who is in his sixth season in leading the Tiger divers. The divers participated in two invitationals this season including one at the LSU Natatorium. The LSU Diving Invitational is a planned event that rotates annually between Georgia Tech, LSU and Auburn. LSU sophomore Rachel Ware won the 1-meter springboard at the event. The divers also took part in the Georgia Invitational where senior Brown won the platform event. Brown’s score of 261.45 ranks first in the conference.
LSU has posted more than 20 NCAA “B” Cut times this season. Juniors Katie Gilmore and Katherine Noland each own three “B” Cut times. Freshman Kannon Betzon has two “B” cut times, one in the 100 breaststroke (1:03.60) and the other in the 200 IM (2:03.79).
Senior Miko Malberg, who will represent his native country of Estonia at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, also captured two “B” Cut times this season in the 50 free (19.85) and the 100-yard free (44.48).
2008 SEC Swimming and Diving Championships
Alabama Aquatic Center.
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Men’s and Women’s 200 Medley Relay
Prelims Noon
Finals 6:30 p.m.
Women’s 1-Meter Diving
Prelims 12:30 p.m.
Finals 6 p.m.
Men’s 3-Meter Diving
Prelims 2:30 p.m.
Finals 7 p.m.
Men’s and Women’s 800 Freestyle Relay
Finals 7:30 p.m.
No. 17 Swimming & Diving Teams Set for SEC Meet