The LSU swimming and diving team heads to College Station, Texas, today to square off against No. 7 Stanford, Texas A&M, SMU, TCU and Air Force in the Texas A&M Rec Center Natatorium in the Art Adamson Invitational.
The trip is the second leg in a stretch of competition that sees the Tigers (0-3, 0-3 Southeastern Conference) and Lady Tigers (2-2, 1-2 SEC) hit the road for four consecutive competitions away from home. The trip started on Nov. 9 and will last until Jan. 5.
“Anytime you step into a facility other than your own it causes you to make some adjustments,” said diving coach Doug Shaffer. “It puts you in a position where you have to be more focused, but at the same time you still have to be in the moment and perform.”
The team had only left Baton Rouge one other time this season when it visited South Carolina on Nov. 9.
A change in scenery could be just what the Tigers need to shake their slow start. The team has yet to notch a victory this season.
“It takes you out of your comfort zone,” said junior swimmer Frank Greeff. “You have to prepare ahead of time because you’re not going to get to train as much as you want to because of travel.”
Swimming coach Dave Geyer is excited to get his team into a competition that is formatted closer to the postseason SEC and NCAA competitions.
“It gives an opportunity for our athletes to race in a [preliminary] and final session,” Geyer said. “It’s a high level of competition and an opportunity for us to see where we are at the midpoint of the year.”
Action begins 10 a.m. on today and Friday and 9:30 a.m. on Saturday.