The LSU swimming and diving teams won their conference openers Saturday at South Carolina, earning their first victories of the season. The men’s team dominated the Gamecocks, winning 204.5-94.5 after falling just short of No. 2 Stanford, 139-123, on Sept. 14. The Lady Tigers won, 164-136, in their first regular season match. “It was great to get a [Southeastern Conference] road win,” said LSU swimming and diving coach Adam Schmitt in a news release. “They did what they needed to do to get the win.” The men won both the 400-yard medley and freestyle relay. They took first place in 10 of their 14 other events. “We had a lot of [first and second place] finishes on the guy’s side, and they raced really well,” Schmitt said. LSU freshmen Luis Gonzales and Clint Hallum finished first and second in the 1,000-yard freestyle, respectively. Hallum also placed first in the 500-yard freestyle, with Gonzales finishing second. LSU junior Julius Gloeckner won the 200-yard freestyle and the butterfly. The Tigers had first, second and third place finishes in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard butterfly. LSU senior Miko Malberg took first in the 50-yard freestyle and tied South Carolina sophomore Dominique Lendjel for first place in the 100-yard freestyle. The Lady Tigers had first, second and third place finishes in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke and 100- and 200-yard backstroke to lead them to victory. “The key was our backstrokers and breaststrokers went one-two-three in their events,” Schmitt said. LSU freshman Kannon Betzen finished first in the 100-yard breaststroke and second in the 200-yard breastroke to LSU sophomore Victoria Givens. Sophomores Monica McJunkin and Berit Aljand finished first and second in 100-yard backstroke. Aljand placed first in the 200-yard backstroke. The Lady Tigers also finished first in both relays. LSU sophomore Katherine Noland placed first in the 100-yard freestyle and gave LSU an early lead in the 400-yard freestyle relay. “The women’s relay won at the end, and that was exciting,” Schmitt said. “We had Monica McJunkin hold off the late surge and pull off the win.”
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