The LSU swimming and diving teams will compete against some of the nation’s best this season, especially with the addition of top-25 stalwart Texas A&M to the Southeastern Conference.
Swimming Coach Dave Geyer and Diving Coach Doug Shaffer announced the schedule they said is purposefully difficult to best prepare the Tigers for the most important part of the season.
“Knowing how competitive our conference is, we always try to line up meets with not only the best in the SEC, but also the best in the country,” Geyer said in a news release. “Ultimately all of our competition is used as a primer and foundation for the SEC Championships and the NCAA Championships.”
The men’s and women’s teams both kick off the season Sept. 22 against Centenary in Shreveport, La., before returning to the LSU Natatorium for the annual Purple and Gold Intrasquad on Sept. 28.
The women’s squad will then go on the road to face Vanderbilt on Oct. 10 in the first of three away meets involving either the men’s or women’s squad.
“The men will venture to [Southern Methodist University on Jan 12.] for the first time since 1997, and the women will travel to Vanderbilt – a team we have yet to compete against in a dual meet,” Geyer said.
The women’s team will also compete alone against Tulane on Oct. 26 in New Orleans.
Both squads travel to Auburn on Oct. 20 for an early test against a men’s and women’s squad that finished last season ranked No. 8 and No. 3 in the NCAA, respectively.
LSU hosts Alabama on Nov. 2 for the team’s first SEC dual-meet, the day before the Crimson Tide football team squares off against the Tigers on the gridiron.
Last season, Alabama and LSU’s men’s squads went down to the final event to decide a winner, with the Tigers narrowly beating the Crimson Tide, 151-149.
Texas A&M’s No. 6 women’s squad and No. 18 men’s squad will host LSU for the first time in conference play on Jan. 19.
“Obviously Texas A&M added as an in-conference matchup enhances our meet strength,” Geyer said.
Beginning Jan. 25, both LSU squads will take part in a two-day home quad-meet against Houston, Rice and Tulane before beginning the SEC Championships, which begins Feb. 19 in College Station, Texas.
Those who qualify will participate in the NCAA Championships beginning March 21 in Indianapolis, Ind.
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Contact Scott Branson at [email protected]