BATON ROUGE — Before gearing up for the SEC Championships in February, the LSU swimming and diving teams will close out the regular season with the LSU Invitational, beginning Friday at 4 p.m. (CST) in the LSU Natatorium.
The 17th-ranked men’s team (6-1), which moved up one spot in the latest College Swim Coaches Association of America poll Thursday, will take on the University of New Orleans. The Lady Tigers (4-3-1) will compete against UNO, Houston and Rice in three separate dual meets.
Following Friday’s action, the invitational will resume Saturday at 11 a.m.
“We are going into this meet looking to sharpen ourselves for SECs,” LSU head coach Adam Schmitt said. “It’s our last home meet of the season. It’s great to be in our home environment and our own pool, and we’ll take this opportunity to fine-tune some events and get ready for the postseason.”
The LSU men recorded their sixth consecutive dual-meet victory last Saturday, holding off Texas A&M on the road, 155-145. The Tigers’ current winning streak is the longest single-season streak in more than 14 years. With a victory this weekend, the team will reach seven wins for the first time since 1998-99.
The Lady Tigers have won four out of their last five dual meets and will look to get back on track after falling to the eighth-ranked Texas A&M women last weekend.
Senior Julius Gloeckner, who has been a vital part of the Tigers’ success over the past few competitions, lifted the LSU men past the Aggies with three victories in individual competition. After posting a win in the 200-yard butterfly and swimming a season-best time of 1 minute, 48.53 seconds to take first in the 200 breaststroke, the Freiburg, Germany, native spearheaded a critical 1-2-3 finish in the 200 individual medley to seal the men’s victory.
Sophomores Luis Gonzalez and Hannes Heyl also proved to be difference makers as each registered a pair of victories apiece. Gonzalez secured season bests in the 500 and 1000 freestyle races to capture first-place in both events, while Heyl emerged victorious in both backstroke races.
In addition, senior diver Niko Dalman scored a season-high 381.15 points in the three-meter springboard to place second.
The Lady Tigers received fine efforts from seniors Monica McJunkin and Victoria Givens, who each swam to victory in College Station, Texas. McJunkin took first-place in the 100 back (56.63), and Givens seized the 200 breast in 2:20.77.
Furthermore, senior Katie Gilmore improved her season best in the 50 free with a time of 23.38, and sophomore Kannon Betzen swam her top time on the year in the 200 IM, 2:07.41.
The LSU Natatorium is located at the corner of Nicholson Drive and W. Chimes street, next to the Carl Maddox Field House. Admission to all LSU swimming and diving meets is free.
LSU Invitational ? Schedule of Events
Friday ? 4 p.m.
200-yard Medley Relay
1000-yard Freestyle
100-yard Butterfly
100-yard Backstroke
200-yard Breaststroke
200-yard Freestyle
One-meter Diving
50-yard Freestyle
200-yard Individual Medley
400-yard Freestyle Relay
Saturday ? 11 a.m.
400-yard Medley Relay
500-yard Freestyle
200-yard Butterfly
200-yard Backstroke
100-yard Breaststroke
Three-meter Diving
100-yard Freestyle
400-yard Individual Medley
200-yard Freestyle Relay