LSU Gold
Position
Sprint Freestyle/butterfly
Height
6'2
Class
Senior
Hometown
Hobbs, N.M.
High School
Hobbs HS

2010 SEC Academic Honor Roll
2009 SEC Academic Honor Roll

CAREER (2007-11)
Sprint freestyle specialist who was a valuable contributor on relays … Part of two team season-best relays as a senior … Played a role on the team’s 200 free relay that broke the LSU Natatorium record against Texas A&M during the 2009-10 season … Also a two-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
 
SENIOR SEASON (2010-11)
Sprint freestyle and butterfly contributor who played a role on a pair of relays in post-season competition … Competed in every dual meet, Cougar Classic Invitational, SEC Championships and Georgia’s Last Chance Meet … Anchored the squad’s fourth-place 200 medley relay at SEC’s … Also placed 24th in the 100 free with a personal best of 45.19, 26th in the 50 free (20.39) and 31st in the 100 fly (50.99) at the conference meet … Swam on the 200 medley and 200 free relays at the Last Chance Meet, which posted season bests of 1:26.14 and 1:19.11, respectively … Took sixth in the 50 free at the Cougar Classic … Also finished eighth in the 100 free and won the consolation final of the 100 fly at that event … Swam to third in the 100 free at the Florida International Invite … Earned his third varsity letter.
 
JUNIOR SEASON (2009-10)
Contributed in sprint freestyle and butterfly events … Competed in eight dual meets, Houston’s Cougar Classic Invitational and SEC Championships … Raced as an exhibition swimmer at SEC’s, swimming season bests of 20.52, 45.77 and 50.86 in the 50 free, 100 free and 100 fly, respectively … Swept the 50 and 100 free in a road win at Florida Atlantic … Took second in the 50 free and third in the 100 free in a home win over UNO … Recorded third in the 50 free at UNO … Registered 16th in the 50 free at the Cougar Classic … Named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll … Earned his second varsity letter.
 
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2008-09)
Added depth to the sprint freestyle and butterfly races … Competed in every dual meet, Texas A&M’s Art Adamson Invitational and SEC Championships … Improved both of his career-best times in the 50 and 100 freestyle … Swam to a 31st-place finish in the 50 free at SEC’s with a time of 20.77 … Finished 36th in the 100 free (46.18) … Also took part in the 100 butterfly, reaching the wall in 51.04 … Placed 14th in the 100 free at the Art Adamson Invitational … Posted a new career best of 45.74 in the prelims of that race … Recorded a career best of 20.28 in the 50 free at the LSU Invitational versus UNO … Claimed third in the 100 free in a win over Delta State … Named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll … Earned his first varsity letter.
 
FRESHMAN SEASON (2007-08)
Contributed to freestyle races … Participated in six dual meets, the Georgia Tech Invitational and SEC Championships … Enjoyed his best meet at SEC’s where he recorded season bests in the 50 free (21.09) and the 100 free (46.92) … Registered top-five finishes in both the 50 and 100 free in a dual-meet victory over Delta State … Posted marks of 22.47 and 57.30 in the 50 free and 100 fly, respectively, at the Georgia Tech Invitational.

PRIOR TO LSU
An all-around athlete at Hobbs High School who was one of the premier swimmers in the state of New Mexico … A standout sprint freestyle to middle distance swimmer who will contribute in those events for the Tigers … Shattered six school records as a senior — 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 500 free, 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly … Also helped break two school relay records during his career … Finished second in the 50 free final at the 2007 state championships (20.91) … A member of the Dallas Mustangs Swim Team, which was awarded a silver medal by USA Swimming in 2006 … Earned letters in track, cross country and soccer … Coached by Shawn Drake.

PERSONAL
Born Dec. 26, 1988 … Parents are Dan and Nancy Zeller … Has one younger brother, Aaron … Majoring in construction management.

ERIC’S TOP TIMES
50 freestyle, 20.28, 2009 vs. UNO
100 freestyle, 45.19, 2011 SEC Championships
100 butterfly, 50.86, 2010 SEC Championships

 

Full Bio