The efforts of the LSU swimming and diving team finally have begun to pay off, as the women pulled out a win on Nov. 9 against University of Arkansas.
“That is one of the wildest meets I have ever been involved in, and I have been coaching for about 20 years,” said LSU head coach Jeff Cavana.
In the end, no one team took the overall win. LSU’s women defeated Arkansas with a score of 162-115, while Arkansas upset No. 18 Alabama 146-137. However, LSU lost to ‘Bama 154-127.
LSU senior Julie Johnson won the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24.18. Double-winner All-American Stephanie Smith took titles in the 1000-yard freestyle with a time of 9:58.69 and the 500-yard freestyle in 4:54.73. Diver Jessica Wantz helped out the team, scoring 300.20 to win the three-meter event.
Despite strong performances by Evan Martinec and Jan Minartz, the LSU men’s squad took a loss against Alabama. Arkansas only competed in the women’s competition.
The All-American Martinec swam the 100-yard backstroke in 48.94 to take the title and continue his winning streak. Minartz won the 500-yard freestyle in 4:33.81, which was faster than his time against Tennessee and gave him his third-consecutive title in the 500-yard freestyle this season. Kyle VanArsdall won the men’s three-meter diving competition with a score of 281.05.
Alabama took the men’s and women’s one-meter events with Lane Bassham and Stewart Smith taking the titles.
LSU’s men now are 1-3 overall and 0-3 in the Southeastern Conference, while the women improved to 2-3 and 1-3 in the SEC.
Next on the schedule for the Tigers’ swim team is the Nike Cup Invitational Nov. 21-23 in Chapel Hill, N.C. The divers will head that same weekend to the Minnesota Diving Invitational in Minneapolis, Minn.