The men’s NCAA national qualifiers were named last Friday and four LSU Tigers will be making the trip to Austin, Texas, March 27-29 for the 2003 NCAA National Championships.
All-American junior Evan Martinec was the only male Tiger to earn an “A” cut times which guaranteed their qualification. Martinec finished eighth last year in the 100-yard backstroke at the NCAA’s where he broke his own school record in the event.
This season Martinec earned 2003 All-SEC honors after finishing second at the conference championships.
The 400-medley relay team of Martinec, junior Matthew Rucker, senior Mike Jotautas and sophomore Francisco Paez, earned a “B” cut qualification time and was notified that their time was quick enough to qualify them for nationals.
The relay team finished fourth at the SEC Championships in February.
Assistant swimming coach Lars Jorgensen attributes the relay team’s success to great teamwork.
“I think all four of them, in conference, swam really well,” he said. “They broke the school record.”
Jorgensen said there’s usually one swimmer that stands out in relays but in this case all four of the men contribute.