FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The LSU swimming and diving team combined to break nine pool records on the first day of competition against Northern Arizona and Wyoming Friday afternoon at NAU’s Wall Aquatic Center.
The teams return to the pool tomorrow at 11 a.m. CT for the final day of competition. After the first day, the women’s team leads Northern Arizona 197-84 and Wyoming 177-104.
“The women were pushed early in the meet and squeaked out the win in the first relay,” LSU swimming coach Dave Geyer said. “The longer events are definitely a challenge here but I enjoyed our racing approach as a whole. For the program to do what we want to do this year, we need to push hard tomorrow in our racing as well.”
Junior Kara Kopcso led the way for the squad with four victories and three pool records. Kopcso opened the afternoon with a victory in the 400-meter medley relay along with Haylee Knight, Colleen O’Neil and Leah Troskot (4:11.76).
For the second time this season, Kopcso took first in the 200 fly. Her time of 2:14.98 in the short course meters format was also a pool record. Kopcso returned to the pool later and took first in the 200-meter butterfly (27.70). The Mandeville, Louisiana native capped her night with a victory and pool record in the 200-meter IM (2:19.19).
Senior Megan Cox returned home to Arizona and tallied two pool records, two wins and a second-place finish in the 200-meter freestyle relay. Cox opened with a victory in the 200-meter freestyle (2:02.89) and followed with a win in the 16th event, the 100-meter freestyle (56.54).
O’Neil earned victories for the Lady Tigers in the 50 and 200-meter breaststroke with times of 32.35 and 2:38.15. Senior Sophie Weber touched the wall first in the 200-meter with a record time of 2:18.47. Weber followed that record breaking performance with a second-place finish in the 200-meter IM.
In just her second collegiate meet, Knight made an impact for the Lady Tigers. Knight touched the wall second in the 50-meter backstroke (29.46) and 50-meter freestyle (25.48).
Senior Cassie Weil rounded out the women’s side with a win on three-meter springboard. Weil tallied a pool record score of 339.65.
After a day of competition, Wyoming leads 168-112on the men’s side. In his first collegiate meet, Thomas Smith sparked the Tigers with a victory and pool record in the 200-meter backstroke (2:01.32). Smith also added runner-up finishes in the 50-meter backstroke and 200-meter IM.
Logan Rysemus, the men’s team captain, led the way for the Tigers with victories in the 50-meter backstroke with a time of 26.33and 50-meter butterfly with a time of 24.91.
Diver Andrew Suchla also recorded a victory on one-meter springboard with a pool record score of 312.05.
Senior Alex Linge touched the wall second in the 100-meter freestyle (51.66). Garrett House just narrowly finished second in the 200-meter breaststroke with a time of 2:19.30.
“I expected a great challenge from Wyoming and they are certainly giving our men’s team that after day one,” Geyer said. “The meet is a huge challenge for our program being the first dual, all of the youth on the squad and being at 7,000 feet. We will have our work cut out for us tomorrow but there will be some fight in us for sure.”
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