The LSU swimming and diving teams accumulated seven medals and broke nine school records and one Southeastern Conference record at the five-day SEC Championships in Auburn, Alabama.
LSU was the only school at the meet to have both a male and female diver qualify for every event final. The men’s team finished ninth and the women’s team placed fifth, the best SEC finish for the Lady Tigers since 2011-2012.
The meet opened Feb. 17 with senior divers Alex Bettridge and Daniel Helm both capturing silver medals. Helm broke the school record in the one-meter scoring a 411.30, and he stands as the only Tiger to ever score more than 400 in the event.
Bettridge scored the second-highest three-meter score in school history with a 370.60
LSU’s swimmers also set program records with both the men and women swimming their fastest time in the 800 freestyle relay. The men’s team of freshman Jake Markham, senior Daniel Swietlicki, senior Frank Greeff and junior Alex Linge swam a time of 6:25.65, breaking their previous fastest time set back in 2013.
The women’s team of junior Danielle Stirrat, freshman Devon Dabney, junior Megan Cox and sophomore Kara Kopsco’s time of 7:06:76 broke the school record.
Bettridge followed up her silver medal by capturing the gold medal on Feb. 18 and setting a school and SEC record with a time of 350.30 in the one-meter.
Freshman Joao Mescolote and senior Marco Gonzales placed second and third, respectively, in the 50 free ‘C’ final. Mescolote finished with a 20.07, while Gonzales finished with a time of 20.04.
The Tigers continued their success into day three, as Greeff won silver with his second-place finish in the 100 fly (46.24).
Day four was another record setting day for the Tigers as junior diver Cassie Weil won gold on platform while breaking the school record with a score of 331.70. Weil became LSU’s ninth SEC champion on platform and 34th overall.
The men’s relay team of sophomore Silas Dejean, junior Alex Linge, sophomore Logan Rysemus and Greeff broke the school record with a time of 3:09.23 in the 400 medley relay. The women’s team of junior Caley Oquist, sophomores Colleen O’Neil and Leah Troskot and senior Amber Carter while also broke a school record (3:35.32).
Bettridge also won her third medal of the SECs — bronze on platform — with the second highest score in LSU history (307.10). She won SEC Female Diver of the Meet recognition and closed the meet scoring 87 points, which is also the most in school history.
On the final day at SECs, Helm won his second silver medal of the meet. This one was for his performance on the platform, on which he scored his personal best score of 416.80.