BATON ROUGE — The LSU swimming and diving program officially kicks off the 2008-09 season beginning Wednesday as the men’s and women’s teams welcome the Florida Gators to town for a pair of dual meets in the LSU Natatorium.
The men’s squad will take on the Gators at 2 p.m. Wednesday, while the Lady Tigers will face Florida at 2 p.m. Thursday.
The Tigers return 16 letterwinners and three All-Americans from a year ago, and the LSU women bring back a veteran squad that includes 19 letterwinners and 12 seniors. Each team finished last season ranked in the top 20 of its respective College Swim Coaches Association of America poll, and both squads are poised for outstanding seasons in 2008-09.
“This is the first dual meet of the year, and it happens to be against a top-10 opponent,” LSU coach Adam Schmitt said. “We are early in the season and still trying to feel out our teams. The unique thing about these meets is that they are on separate days with the men and women, which allows us to focus on each team at different times.”
Headlining the LSU men this season is the German trio of Christoph Lubenau, Hannes Heyl and Julius Gloeckner. Lubenau and Heyl each collected a pair of All-America accolades in the 100-yard butterfly and as members of the school’s record-setting 200 freestyle relay team last year, and Lubenau shattered the program mark in the 100 fly. Gloeckner owns three individual school records and has three All-America honors to his credit.
Rachel Ware, the reigning SEC Women’s Diver of the Year, leads the Lady Tigers into 2008-09. The junior earned her third All-America award in two seasons and captured two medals at the SEC Championships a year ago. Seniors Katherine Noland and Katie Gilmore are the top returning swimmers on the women’s squad. Noland is a three-time All-American and is a part of three relay records at LSU. Gilmore, a 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials participant and three-time All-American, holds the team’s 50 free mark and an additional four school records in relay competition.
“I believe the energy will be high, and the Tigers are ready to get their first meet under their belts,” Schmitt added. “It’s too early to tell who will stand out, but I look toward our seniors to lead the way along with a few of our freshmen.”
Florida opened its season last Friday in Ann Arbor, Mich., with both men’s and women’s teams in action. The Gator women (1-1) split a double dual meet, defeating Michigan, 206-94 and falling to Stanford, 178-122. The men (0-1) were edged by the Wolverines, 182-115.
The LSU Natatorium is located at the corner of Nicholson Drive and West Chimes Street to the left of the Carl Maddox Field House (facing Nicholson) and in front of the old Tiger Park. Admission to all LSU swimming and diving meets is free.