Eight members of the LSU men’s swimming and diving team will begin competition Thursday at the NCAA Championships at the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis, Ind.

Four individual qualifiers and four relay competitors represent the Tigers, marking the largest group sent to the meet during the tenures of swimming coach Dave Geyer and diving coach Doug Shaffer.

“We’re going to go up there with eight guys, seven swimmers and one diver, and with a strong focus on relays,” Geyer said. “It is a situation that if we swim the times we went at [the Southeastern Conference Championship], it could be good enough to earn those second swims at NCAAs.”

Individual qualifiers for LSU include seniors Craig Hamilton and Andrei Tuomola and sophomore Frank Greeff. To complete the relay squads for the five team races in which LSU will compete, senior Nick Kunkel, junior Michael Saco, sophomore Michael Young and freshman Gabe Roker will also make the trip.

“I think we are in a good spot,” Geyer said. “It is all about beating the majority of the field to finish top eight or top 16.”

Junior Sean McKinney will be the only diver representing LSU. He’ll have a busy meet as he’s competing in all three events after finishing fourth at the NCAA Zone ‘D’ Diving Regionals in the three-meter with a score of 621.85.

Despite being the only Tiger diver there, McKinney is not letting the moment get the best of him.

“It feels great to be there, but I’m just going to do what I’ve been doing,” McKinney said. “It’s just another meet to me really.”

Shaffer is confident in McKinney’s preparation and expects a top performance from his only male qualifier.

“Sean is ready and has done the prep and the training all year long,” Shaffer said. “I’m going to try and keep him focused. It is fully within his capabilities for him to score at the meet.”

The meet will conclude Saturday.