In a highly competitive dual meet Saturday, the Texas A&M men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams edged out LSU’s squads.
The No. 8 Texas A&M women nipped the No. 23 Lady Tigers (10-4), 163-120, while the No. 22 LSU men’s team (6-5) fell to No. 20 Texas A&M by a count of 166-134.
“I knew it would be a tight battle,” said co-head coach David Geyer. “It always is with Texas A&M.”
The meet, however, wasn’t lacking strong performances by LSU swimmers.
After breaking a pool record in the 50-yard freestyle at the LSU Natatorium last weekend, senior swimmer Jane Trepp finished first in two races for the Lady Tigers.
“Texas A&M has a strong and deep team,” Geyer said. “I’m proud of how our ladies did against them.”
Trepp won the 50-yard freestyle as well as the 100-yard butterfly.
Senior swimmer Hannes Heyl had an outstanding day to lead the men’s efforts. Heyl recorded a victory in the 50-yard freestyle with a season-best time of 20.36 seconds and earned first place in the 100-yard butterfly.
Senior swimmers James Meyers, Lamar Weeks and Clint Hallum all joined Heyl in posting first-place finishes for the Tigers in College Station.
Meyers won the 100-yard backstroke, while Weeks earned first in the 200-yard butterfly, and Hallum won the individual medley.
The young Tigers and Lady Tigers earned points for LSU, as well.
Sophomore Chris Mericas finished with two personal-best times in his backstroke events, one of them coming just behind the first-place Meyers in the 100-yard backstroke. Mericas also won the 200-yard backstroke.
“He’s had a great attitude all year, I’m excited for him,” Geyer said. “He deserved the win.”
Freshman Torrey Bussey finished second in the 200-yard breaststroke and sophomore Jana Ruimerman earned third place in the 200-yard backstroke, showing promise for the future of the Lady Tigers.
The divers had a few standout performances of their own, with junior Matt Vieke earning second place in the 3-meter competition. The score of 388.20 was a career best for Vieke, who came within five points of setting a school record.
In the 1-meter competition, freshman Sean McKinney and sophomore Elle Schmidt led LSU. McKinney finished third for the men, while Schmidt earned fourth for the Lady Tigers.
The LSU men’s team finished its regular season, and now will look ahead to the Southeastern Conference championships, which will be hosted at Florida next month.
“The results have been more consistent,” Geyer said of the team’s preparedness for SEC championships. “We’re in a great spot for the championships.”
The Lady Tigers still have one meet left. They will face Tulane, Rice and Houston in a two-day meet next weekend hosted at the LSU Natatorium.
 
 
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Contact Albert Burford at [email protected]