GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The nationally-ranked LSU swimming and diving teams will wrap up their annual trip to the Sunshine State with a road test against Southeastern Conference opponent Florida Sunday at 1 p.m. (CST) in the O’Connell Center Natatorium.
The 18th-ranked Tigers (2-4) got off to a solid start to their 2010 portion of the schedule with a 126.5-73.5 victory at Florida Atlantic Friday, while the 21st-ranked Lady Tigers (3-4) also emerged victorious with a 129-71 margin against the Owls.
Sophomore Morgan McGee and junior Eric Zeller spearheaded their respective teams’ victories with a pair of wins in individual competition. However, 11 other swimmers came away with wins on the afternoon, including Lady Tigers’ co-captain Jane Trepp (200-yard individual medley) and the men’s freshman duo of Craig Hamilton (1000 freestyle) and Andrei Tuomola (100 butterfly).
In addition, LSU swept all four relay races with wins in the 200 freestyle and 200 medley competitions.
The LSU divers will join the swimmers Sunday for the meet against the Gators after spending the first week of January competing in the Georgia Diving Invitational and Shootout in Athens, Ga. Sophomore Brian Gemberling led the charge with top-10 finishes in all three events, including fifth-place in the three-meter springboard. Freshman Rebecca St. Germain also reached the finals in both springboard competitions.
The sixth-ranked Florida men return eight All-Americans from a year ago, including two-time NCAA champion Shaune Fraser. The seventh-ranked Florida women have 11 All-Americans from 2008-09, led by five-time NCAA champion and reigning SEC Female Swimmer of the Year Gemma Spofforth.
Following the meet, the Tigers will travel back home to continue training for several more dual meets in the second half of January, including a Senior Day battle with Texas A&M on Jan. 23 at the LSU Natatorium.