COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Diver Alex Bettridge and swimmer Kara Kopcso each earned two wins, but it wasn’t enough as the LSU Swimming and Diving team fell to Texas A&M Saturday afternoon at the Texas A&M Rec Aquatic Center.
The No. 20 LSU women’s team dropped the dual meet finale to No. 4 Texas A&M 166-121. Kopcso had another great meet with wins in the 100 fly (53.81) and 200 fly (1:59.34). The sophomore also finished second in the 200 IM with a time of 2:00.88.
“The great thing about coming to Texas A&M is that you know what you’re going to get,” LSU assistant coach Jeana Kempe said. “They are a really good coached team from top to bottom. Anytime we can go and compete against a top-five team in the country and compete in every event is something positive.”
Senior Amber Carter finished second in all three individual events. Carter finished the 50 free in 22.88, the 100 free in 50.45, and the 100 fly in 53.82.
Junior Caley Oquist also added a pair of second-place finishes in the 100 back (54.51) and 200 back (1:59.29).
Devon Dabney, Megan Cox and Colleen O’Neil also touched the wall second for the women’s team. Dabney finished second in the 1000 free with a time of 10:11.37. Cox did it in the 200 free with a time of 1:48.69. O’Neil also notched a second-place finish in the 100 breast (1:02.16).
Bettridge swept both springboard events for the Lady Tigers. The senior notched a score of 310.20 on three-meter and a score of 300.67 on one-meter. Cassie Weil also finished second on one-meter (293.40) and third on three-meter (283.15). Allie Alter notched a third-place finish on one-meter with a score of 252.31.
“Across the board we had some good performances,” LSU Diving coach Doug Shaffer said. “We have to be sharper and execute better. I think we were tired from our weeks of training but our spirits and competitive drive were good. Overall, we responded well but moving forward we have to execute better.”
The men fell to 2-5 on the year in the 166-121 loss to Texas A&M. Senior Frank Greeff grabbed the lone win for the Tigers in the 200 fly with a time of 1:46.76. Greeff also finished second in the 100 fly (48.91).
“We stepped up and raced hard across the board today,” LSU assistant coach Chase Kreitler said. “We had a lot of in-season best times and put ourselves in a great position going into SEC Championships.”
Sophomore Elliot Dewlen provided a pair of second-place finishes in the distance events. Dewlen finished second in the 1000 free (9:24.79) and the 500 free (4:30.38).
Silas Dejean finished second in the 100 breast (55.47). Brandon Goldman also added two second-place finishes in the 200 fly (1:48.81) and 200 back (1:48.37).
Matthew Schaefer also finished third in the 1000 free (9:36.54) and Logan Rysemus finished third in the 100 fly (49.85).
On the diving side, Daniel Helm finished second on one-meter (351) and third on three-meter (306.53). Andrew Suchla also second on three-meter (337.20) and third on one-meter (330.53).
To start the meet, the women’s team of Oquist, O’Neil, Carter and Leah Troskot finished second in the 400-medley relay with a time of 3:40.33. The men’s team of Rysemus, Dejean, Greeff and Alex Linge also finished second with a time of 3:16.00.
The women’s team of Troskot, Dabney, Danielle Stirrat and Cox also finished second in the 200-free relay with a time of 1:34.76.
The LSU women’s team returns to action next Friday and Saturday for a quad meet against Houston, Tulane and Rice. Competition begins Friday at 5 p.m. for Ladies Night where the first 100 fans will receive an LSU Swim and Dive tote bag. Saturday’s events begin at 11 a.m. and the first 200 fans will receive “Pack The Nat” t-shirts.
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