LSU Gold

Divers Lead the Way on Day 1 at SEC's

by Brandon Berrio
Tuesday Final Results Wednesday Prelim Heat Sheets +0
Divers Lead the Way on Day 1 at SEC's

AUBURN, Ala. — The LSU swimming team set two school records and divers Alex Bettridge and Daniel Helm captured silver medals on the first day of SEC Championships.

Helm set the school record on one-meter with a score of 411.30. Helm is the only LSU diver to eclipse the 400 mark on one-meter. It is the senior’s third medal earned at SEC’s and second on one-meter. Bettridge posted the second highest three-meter score in school history (370.60) on the way to a silver medal.

“The finals competition was at an exceptional level,” LSU diving coach Doug Shaffer said. “To compete at that level and have Alex and Daniel score personal bests and silver medals is phenomenal. We had three people final and every diver scored. It’s an exceptional start to SEC Championships. We still have four more days though.”

The LSU women sit in first place after day one with 164 total points. The LSU men have totaled 114 points for ninth place.

On the swimming side, both the men and women set school records in the 800 freestyle relay. The team of Frank Greeff, Alex Linge, Jake Markham and Daniel Swietlicki set the time of 6:25.65, besting the previous record set in 2013.

“It was a great way to start the meet,” LSU swimming coach Dave Geyer said. “This was by far a better first session for the entire program compared to a year ago. Three school records, two ‘A’ cuts, and two podium finishes from the divers. It’s a long meet but this definitely builds momentum for the coming days.”

The women’s team of Megan Cox, Danielle Stirrat, Devon Dabney and Kara Kopcso broke the school record, that was set last season, with a time of 7:06.76. The Lady Tigers finished in sixth place overall.

All divers scored for LSU on day one. In addition to Bettridge and Helm’s performance on the springboards, junior Cassie Weil finished fourth on three-meter with a score of 364.55. Andrew Suchla finished 19th with a score of 275.75 on one-meter. Madison Sthamann finished in 18th place on three-meter with a score of 277.40. Katie Lagarde finished 21st with a score of 269.50 and Allie Alter also finished 22nd with a score of 267.95.

The men’s team of Logan Rysemus, Silas Dejean, Frank Greeff and Marco Gonzalez also finished seventh in the 200-medley relay with a time of 1:26.39.

The team of Caley Oquist, Colleen O’Neil, Amber Carter and Leah Troskot finished sixth in the 200-medley relay with a time of 1:37.14.

A full recap will be available on lsusports.net at the conclusion of each day. For more information and updates on LSU Swimming and Diving please visit LSUsports.net, ‘like’ us on Facebook at LSU Swimming and Diving or follow us on Twitter @LSUswimdive.

Schedule of Events

Wednesday, February 19
500 freestyle (Prelims)- 10 a.m.
200 IM (Prelims)
50 free (Prelims)
Women’s 1-meter (Prelims) 1 p.m.

500 freestyle (Finals)- 6 p.m.
200 IM (Finals)
50 Free (Finals)
Men’s 1-meter (Finals)
200 Freestyle Relay (Finals)

Thursday, February 20
400 IM (Prelims)- 10 a.m.
100 Fly
200 Freestyle
Men’s 3-meter- 12 p.m.

400 IM (Finals)- 6 p.m.
100 Butterfly (Finals)
Women’s 3- meter (Final)
200 Freestyle (Finals)

Friday, February 21
200 Butterfly (Prelims)- 10 a.m.
100 Backstroke (Prelims
100 Breaststroke (Prelims)
Women’s Platform (Prelims)- 12 p.m.

200 Butterfly (Finals)- 6 p.m.
100 Backstroke (Finals)
100 Breaststroke (Finals)
Women’s Platform (Final)
400 Medley Relay (Finals)

Saturday, February 22
100 Freestyle (Prelims)- 10 a.m.
200 Backstroke (Prelims)
200 Breaststroke (Prelims)
Men’s Platform (Prelims)- 12 p.m.

1650 Freestyle (Finals)- 6 p.m.
100 Freestyle (Final)
200 Backstroke (Final)
200 Breaststroke (Final)
Men’s Platform (Final)
400 Freestyle Relay

*All times listed in CT.