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Two Tigers Qualify for 2021 Men’s NCAA Championships

by Tanner Craft | Communications Student Assistant
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Two Tigers Qualify for 2021 Men’s NCAA Championships

BATON ROUGE – LSU swimmers Brooks Curry and Mitch Mason have qualified for the 2021 Men’s NCAA Championships based on their performances throughout the season. The Men’s NCAA Championships will begin on March 17 from inside the Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, North Carolina.

“We are excited for Brooks and Mitch to compete at the NCAA Championships,” said LSU head swim coach Dave Geyer. “We are looking for them to compete at a high level and represent LSU the best they can.”

HOW THEY GOT HERE

After a spectacular freshman campaign just a year ago, Curry saw nothing but improvements in a sophomore season that saw him earn three medals at the 2021 SEC Championships. At those championships, he earned the silver medal in the 100-Yard Freestyle with a time of 41.80, breaking his own school record. He also earned two bronze medals in the 50 and the 200-Yard Freestyle with times of 19.16 and 1:32.64. His 50-Yard Freestyle prelim time of 18.97 broke his own school record he set earlier in the season. Curry qualified for the NCAA Championships in all three freestyle events.

“It is hard to remember a two year stretch as amazing as Brooks has had these last two years,” said Coach Geyer. “We are excited for him to experience this year’s championship as last year was canceled.”

Against Alabama to start the season, he won the 100-Yard Freestyle with a time of 43.19, the 200-Yard Freestyle with a time of 1:35.86, and came in second in the 50-Yard Freestyle with a time of 20.07. At the Art Adamson Invitational, he swam a 19.28 to claim the victory. At the same meet, won the 100-Yard Freestyle with a time of 42.06, and came in third place in the 200-Yard Freestyle with a time of 1:33.75. Against Florida State, he won the 200-Yard Freestyle with a time of 1:37.75 and finished second in the 100-Yard Freestyle with a time of 44.00. Then against Texas A&M, he won both the 100-Yard Freestyle and 200-Yard Freestyle with times of 42.29 and 1:36.71.

Mitch Mason used a phenomenal freshman season to earn his first ever NCAA berth in the 100 and 200-Yard Breaststroke. He earned his spot on the All-SEC Freshman Team after finishing in fourth place in the 100-Yard Breaststroke with a time of 52.32, a school record, at the 2021 SEC Championships. Also at the championships, he finished in 23rd place in the 200-Yard Breaststroke with a personal best time of 1:57.73.

“To make NCAA’s as a freshman is no easy task and Mitch really came through in his final swims at the SEC Championships to secure his spot,” continued Geyer.

Against Alabama to start his career, he finished in fifth place in the 100-Yard Breaststroke with a time of 56.93 and sixth place in the 200-Yard Breaststroke with a time of 2:08.80. At the Art Adamson Invitational, he finished in third place in the 100-Yard Breaststroke with a time of 53.69, and then finished in eighth place in the 200-Yard Breaststroke and 13th place in the 200-Yard IM with times of 1:59.18 and 1:50.81. Against Florida State University he won the 100-Yard Breaststroke with a time of 54.56, finished second in the 200-Yard Breaststroke with a time of 2:01.79 and finished fifth in the 200-Yard IM with a time of 1:51.89. Against Texas A&M he finished third in the 100-Yard Breaststroke with a time of 55.60, third in the 200-Yard Breaststroke with a time of 2:03.63 and fourth in the 200-Yard IM with a time of 1:53.64.

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