BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU swimming and diving team returns to its home pool for the final time this season against Texas A&M at 11 a.m. Saturday at the LSU Natatorium.
Co-head coaches Dave Geyer and Doug Shaffer will recognize the 12 seniors prior to the meet. The group is composed of LSU record holders, SEC academic honor roll members, NCAA Qualifiers, SEC finalists and an SEC Champion.
“For the seniors on our team, it’s a special meet. The challenge is to control the emotions and focusing on what we need to do for the two hours of competition,” Geyer said. “I’m excited for them to finish out their dual meet career at home, and I look forward to what the future brings for them as well.”
The LSU women’s team is ranked No. 23 in the CSCCA poll and holds an undefeated record. Last week the Lady Tigers defeated No. 19 Missouri to improve to 2-0 in conference meets. The Texas A&M women are ranked No. 6 in the country and hold a 6-2 record overall. The Aggies feature seven times in the top-10 in the country.
“Texas A&M has brought the best out of our program on both sides,” Geyer said. “The women are competing against one of the top teams in the country. It’s a challenge to finish out the dual meet season this way but this is what the SEC is all about.”
Swimmer Kara Kopcso is the reigning SEC Female Athlete of the Week after event wins in the 100 fly, 200 fly and 200 IM. Kopcso is undefeated in the fly and IM events during dual meet action this season. The junior owns the seventh-fastest 200 fly and ninth-fastest 200 IM time in the country this season.
Diver Cassie Weil is one of the seniors that will be honored prior to the meet. Weil is a five-time All-American and the reigning SEC Champion on platform. The Oregon native already has 10 victories this season between three-meter and platform.
Junior Leah Troskot has had great success in the sprint freestyle events the past two meets. Troskot touched the wall first in the 50 and 100 free against Kentucky, Virginia Tech and Missouri.
The LSU men come in at 22 in the rankings. Last week the men narrowly fell to No. 10 Missouri 141.5-155.5. The Texas A&M men are receiving votes in the polls and hold a 5-1 record overall.
Swimmer Thomas Smith was named the SEC Freshman of the Week. The Huntington Beach, California native broke the pool record on the way to the win in the 200 back. Smith also finished second in the 100 back and 200 IM. At the Texas A&M Invite earlier this season, Smith took first in the 200 back with a school record time of 1:42.77.
Logan Rysemus finished first in both individual events entered in last week against Missouri. The junior finished the 100 back in 48.84 and the 100 fly in 48.24. At midseason, hosted by Texas A&M, Rysemus finished first overall in the 100 back.
Junior Brandon Goldman also had a strong showing for the men against Mizzou. Goldman finished first in the 200 fly (1:49.41), second in the 200 back (1:48.95) and third in the 200 IM (1:51.13).
On the boards, Andrew Suchla has had a strong showing during his junior campaign. Suchla reached the final of all three events at the Art Adamson Invitational earlier this season. Last week against Missouri, Suchla finished second on one-meter and third on three-meter.
“On the men’s side, this has been some of the greatest dual meets that I’ve been a part of in my ten years here,” Geyer added. “They bring out the best of our team. I always look forward to compete against them.”
Saturday’s meet will include senior day festivities at 10:40 a.m. Also, the first 200 Tiger fans will receive free t-shirts.
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