LSU Gold
Position
Sprint Freestyle/backstroke
Height
6'0
Class
Senior
Hometown
Miami, Fla.
High School
Palmetto HS

2014 NCAA Qualifier
2013 NCAA Qualifier

SENIOR YEAR (2013-14)
Reached the NCAA Championships for a second year as a relay participant … Swam the anchor leg of the 200 freestyle relay and the second leg of the 400 freestyle relay at the NCAA’s … Finished sixth in the 50 freestyle (19.97) at the SEC Championships … Finished third against Georgia in the 50 free (20.98) … Against South Carolina, took first in the 50 free (20.65) and second in the 100 free (45.95) …. Touched the wall fourth in the 50 free with a mark of 20.25 at the A&M Invite … Took first in the 100 free (46.01) against SMU … Finished second in the 50 free against Texas A&M with a mark of 20.55 … Earned a fourth varsity letter.

JUNIOR SEASON (2012-13)
Immensely talented sprinter who qualified for his first career NCAA Championships on relays … Competed on the 200 freestyle relay, the 400 freestyle relay and the 200 medley relay at NCAA’s … Raced to 13th in the 50 free with a time of 20.07 after swimming a season low 19.97 in prelims at the SEC Championships … Swam his career low in the 100 free (44.76) at the SEC Championships … Posted the team’s regular season fastest 50 free (20.18) in a first place finish in a dual win over Alabama … Took sixth in the 100 free (45.24) at the Phil Hansel midseason invitational … Captured silver in the 50 free (20.22) at the Phil Hansel Invite … Registered a pair of second place swims in the 50 free (20.58) and in the 100 free (46.25) in a dual win over Kentucky … Came in second in the 50 free (20.90) and in the 100 free (45.89) in a road win over SMU … Earned his third varsity letter.

SOPHOMORE SEASON (2011-12)
Returned to form in his sophomore campaign and established himself as one of the program’s top sprinters … Posted the program’s ninth fastest 50 freestyle mark (19.92) in an 11th place finish at the SEC Championships … Registered a season best 100 free time of 44.84 at SEC’s … Swam the second leg of the team’s season best 200 free relay and 400 free relay and the last leg of team’ best 200 medley relay at the conference meet … Also competed in the Tennessee Invitational and every dual meet … Touched the wall first in the 50 free (20.33) against Texas A&M … Took fifth in the 50 free (20.60) and 12th in the 100 free (45.70) at the Tennessee Invitational … Swam to silver and bronze in the 50 free (20.54) and in the 100 free (20.54) and swam the last leg of the first place 200 medley relay in a narrow victory over Alabama …Swam to second in the 50 free and the 100 free in consecutive meets against Florida and against Florida State… Named the Cox Communication Student Athlete of the Month for February … Earned his second varsity letter.

FRESHMAN SEASON (2010-11)
Made solid contributions to the sprint freestyle ranks and relays in his first season … Competed in eight dual meets, Cougar Classic Invitational and SEC Championships … Registered a career best of 44.93 to take 19th in the 100 free at SEC’s and finished 24th in the 50 free with a career best of 20.35 … Raced to runner-up honors in the 50 free (20.56), third in the 100 free (45.63) and 10th in the 100 fly (53.24) at the Cougar Classic … Won the 50 free in a road victory over Alabama … Swam to second-place in the 50 free in a home win over Florida State … Opened the season with a third-place finish in the 50 free versus nationally-ranked Auburn … Earned his first varsity letter.

PRIOR TO LSU
Outstanding freestyle sprinter who went undefeated in his senior season … Won three gold medals at the high school level as a junior and is the state record-holder in the 50 free … Played a significant role on a Florida state championship team … Placed fourth in the 100 free and fifth in the 50 free at the 2009 Speedo Short-course Junior National Championships … Boasts top times of 20.11 and 44.21 in the 50 and 100 free, respectively … Coached by Andy DeAngulo.

PERSONAL
Full name is Michael Brian Saco … Born April 11, 1992, in Miami, Fla. … Parents are Mike and Dacyl Saco … Has two sisters, Kelly and Michelle … His mother, Dacyl was an Olympic swimmer … Plans to major in kinesiology.

SACO’S TOP TIMES
50 freestyle, 19.92, 2012 SEC Championships
100 freestyle, 44.76, 2013 SEC Championships

MICHAEL’S TOP 2013-14 TIMES
50 freestyle, 19.97, 2014 SEC Championships
100 freestyle, 44.86, 2014 SEC Championships

 

Full Bio