Mental preparation has been a key aspect for the LSU swimming and diving teams as they prepare to host Tennessee at the LSU Natatorium today.The men kick off their season at 4 p.m. today, and the women start 11 a.m. Saturday.The coaches stressed the importance of staying strong mentally and physically, according to some of the swimmers.Sophomore swimmer Morgan McGee said the last two weeks of practice were tough, but the whole team has been working through it.”‘Don’t give up. Don’t be weak,.'” McGee said the coaches told the team. “We’re trying to mentally prepare ourselves in practice. That way when the meet comes along, we aren’t scared to race.”McGee said the coaches also told the swimmers anything they did in practice could be done against Tennessee.Senior captain Sean LeNeave said practice has changed in the weeks leading up to the meet but hasn’t backed down in intensity. In the last two weeks, the swimmers have broken up into groups based on their strokes and specialties.”When we split up into groups, I think it gets people in a different mood because they’re finally training for what they specialize in,” LeNeave said. “I think it actually raised the morale a little bit despite the increase in intensity.”On the men’s side, Tennessee comes into the meet returning six All-American swimmers, including four-time All-American junior Michael DeRocco.The Lady Vols return six All-American’s, including 15-time All-American senior Michele King.LeNeave said he feels confident about LSU’s chances.”We can give them a good run,” said LeNeave. “It’s more even than people might believe. It’s going to be a great meet.”Freshmen diver Rebecca St. Germain said the divers have also been preparing hard for the meet by working on repetition. The divers stopped working on basics and are working on their harder dives in the last few weeks.”Everybody has been working hard and trying to stay positive,” Germain said. “Going into a big competition, I think a positive attitude and a strong support system are one of the key things that you need, and I think we have that here.”LeNeave said the hardest thing about beginning the meet season is learning to swim while tired.”A lot of freshmen might not be used to swimming this broken down,” LeNeave said. That’s all what college swimming’s about. During dual meets, both teams are broken down from training. It’s all about who’s going to step up.”LeNeave said the team usually does a good job of learning to swim through pain.”We’re very tired right now,” LeNeave said. “The training is really intense. It’s really hard and the coaches expect a lot of us.”LeNeave said mental preparation is important because the team doesn’t have the physical edge it has when it starts tapering off at the end of the season for the championship meets.Starting Friday, the team will be going full speed ahead throughout the regular season.”We’re not slowing down for anything,” Germain said. 
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