BOCA RATON, Fla. — The LSU swimming teams began the new year in victorious fashion, sweeping the Florida Atlantic Owls Friday at the FAU Pool in Boca Raton, Fla.
The men’s squad (2-1) won all 11 events it competed in to defeat FAU, 165-66. The Lady Tigers (1-2-1) earned their first dual-meet victory of the season, 147-84.
“I was very pleased with the men’s performance,” LSU head coach Adam Schmitt said. “They swam hard today and won all of their races. I’m happy that we came away with two victories, but we still have a lot of work ahead of us. We need to be sharper and get refocused as we prepare for a number of key dual meets before the SEC Championships in February.”
Seven different swimmers on the Tigers captured event titles as sophomores Clint Hallum and Hannes Heyl led the charge with two victories apiece. Hallum won both middle-distance freestyle races, touching the wall in 1 minute, 43.08 seconds in the 200-yard freestyle and recording a time of 4:41.55 in the 500 free. Heyl took the 50 free with a mark of 21.37 and secured first-place in the 100 backstroke (50.82).
Seniors Connor Farber, Julius Gloeckner and Christoph Lubenau also emerged victorious on the afternoon. Farber recorded first-place in the 100 free, while Gloeckner and Lubenau seized the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly, respectively.
In addition, sophomore Luis Gonzalez posted a time of 9:30.25 to top the field in the 1000 free, and freshman Ben Decker registered first-place in the 100 breaststroke (58.47).
The men’s team concluded the meet with a win in the 400 freestyle relay as the foursome of James Meyers, Eric Zeller, Luis Gonzalez and Roy Chambers notched first with a time of 3:09.73.
Sophomore Jane Trepp spearheaded the Lady Tigers’ victory with two wins of her own. The Talinn, Estonia, native earned first-place finishes in the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke events. Senior Vanessa Duenas also enjoyed a solid outing, placing second behind Trepp in both of those races.
Freshman Morgan McGee finished second in the 100 back, and sophomore Lauren Grandy recorded a runner-up finish in the 200 free. Furthermore, the Lady Tiger relay squad of Katie Gilmore, Morgan McGee, Samantha Goates and Monica McJunkin wrapped up the competition with a victory in the 400 freestyle relay.
The LSU swimming teams will return to Baton Rouge for three consecutive home meets, beginning Jan. 7 with Southeastern Conference foe, Kentucky.