The No. 18 LSU women’s swimming team is sending its largest group of athletes to the NCAA Championships in more than 15 years.
Eight Lady Tigers will swim in the Championships, held in Austin, Texas, and one alternate is also making the trip.
The meet runs Thursday through Saturday at the University of Texas’ Jamail Swimming Center.
However, for LSU swimming coach David Geyer, making it to nationals is only half the battle.
“One of our team goals at the beginning of the year was to be top 15 in the nation,” Geyer said. “I think that’s very attainable. I think above that is attainable.”
The program hasn’t finished in the top 15 at the NCAA Championships since 1993, but the Lady Tigers’ performance at the Southeastern Conference Championships has things looking pretty good going into nationals.
The Lady Tigers notched a fifth-place finish while winning 14 medals, breaking 12 program records and one SEC record and earning seven swimmers spots on the All-SEC teams. The team’s performance was its strongest SEC finish in 10 seasons.
The Lady Tigers will look to score big in the 200-yard freestyle relay and the 200-yard medley relay. The team is seeded in the top eight of both events.
While the relays count for twice as many points as individual events, Geyer stressed the importance of the individual events as well, saying that being able to compete in relays as well as individual events is an exciting prospect for the swimmers.
Senior Jane Trepp and sophomore Amanda Kendall are attempting to continue the success of the team from the SEC Championships at nationals. Both swimmers are seeded in the top eight in all three of their individual races.
While this competition will mark Trepp’s third NCAA Championships, two members are making their first trip to the meet for the Lady Tigers. Freshman Torrey Bussey and Cari Blalock both broke LSU records at SEC Championships and are competing in individual events at nationals.
Freshman Rainey White is also making the trip as the team alternate. In addition to Kendall, a host of sophomores are competing for the Lady Tigers in Austin, including Jana Ruimerman and Sara Haley.
Geyer said he is encouraged by the Lady Tigers’ impressive youth.
“To have freshman and sophomores making the meet is big,” Geyer said. “Not only making it, but qualifying as individuals is a huge accomplishment.” 
 
 
 
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