“Coming into this meet, all of the focus was on the seniors,” coach Adam Schmitt said. “It was really important for the seniors to be spotlighted at the beginning of the meet and swim some events they might not usually swim.”LSU’s swimmers didn’t participate in their usual events, but they still dominated Delta State and claimed a school diving record.The Tigers (5-1) and Lady Tigers (4-2-1) steamrolled the Division-II Statesman 151-78 and 150-84 in the LSU Natatorium, losing only one event.Senior diver Niko Dalman broke a 14-year-old school record in the 1-meter springboard, posting a 387.75 on six dives. Dalman’s record was 19.5 points higher than the past record set by Kevin McMahon in 1995. Dalman now holds the 1- and 3-meter springboard records at LSU. “I’m diving better than I ever have before,” the senior said. “I’ve just been working hard, and I’m glad I finally beat it.”Parents, coaches and fans honored 19 LSU seniors before their last dual meet of the season. The class was coach Adam Schmitt’s first recruiting class at LSU. The seniors have grabbed nine individual school records and 16 NCAA All-American honors in their time at LSU.”Coming into this meet, all of the focus was on the seniors,” Schmitt said. “It was really important for the seniors to be spotlighted at the beginning of the meet and swim some events they might not usually swim.”The senior class brought the swimming and diving teams into national spotlight, Schmitt said.”[The seniors have been] very instrumental in turning the program around,” the coach said. “That’s something you expect out of the class of athletes we are trying to develop here.”Seniors Vanessa Duenas, Katie Gilmore and Berit Aljand dominated on senior day. Duenas won the 400 medley, Aljand took the 100 backstroke and Gilmore locked up the 200 freestyle.Co-captain senior Katherine Noland claimed the 500 freestyle, finishing in 5 minutes, 4.68 seconds in her final dual meet at home.”It was exciting to get to swim something different for once,” the co-captain said. LSU won every event except the 500 men’s freestyle.Freshman Morgan McGee, backstroke specialist, won the 1000 freestyle and the 100 butterfly. Freshman diver Katie Lybbert clinched a spot in the NCAA Zone Diving Regional with a 3-meter qualifying score of 289.12.The swimming and diving teams will face Texas A&M on Jan. 24 at College Station.The No. 18 Tigers will face the Aggies, while the Lady Tigers will square off against the No. 8 Lady Aggies. “Texas A&M is a very good team,” Schmitt said. “I think we can definitely have a great meet, be able to swim our best times this season and see what we can do when we get there.” The Tigers and Lady Tigers will then compete in the LSU Invitational and the SEC Championships, finishing with the NCAA Championships.”We look to go into the SECs and try to get our best place ever and also get as many people to the NCAAs as possible,” Schmitt said.
 
—Contact Michael Lambert at [email protected]