Twelve members of the LSU swimming team competed March 1 in the Texas-Bevo Invitational hoping to earn NCAA qualifying times.
The competition, hosted by Texas A&M, proved positive for the girls team as junior Laura Jo Leininger and senior Cissy Schepens both improved their times and chances to compete in this year’s national competition at Auburn.
Leininger swam the 100-yard butterfly in 54.43 seconds, and Schepens swam the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:14.25.
“It was kinda nerve racking,” said Leininger, who knew it was her last chance to improve her time this season.
She said practicing for nationals will be different.
“It’s gonna be a different mental game,” Leininger said.
Jorgensen said Schepens barely missed the NCAA “A” cut qualifying time, which would have guaranteed her a spot at the national competition.
The only LSU swimmers with reserved spots at NCAAs, or “A” cut times, are juniors Stephanie Smith and Evan Martinec. Martinec already earned All-American honors and was recently named All-Southeastern Conference.
Even though Schepens and Leininger qualified provisionally for NCAAs, receiving “B” cut times, the coaching staff feels both swimmers have a good chance of being selected to nationals.
“[Leininger] swam better than she did at conference,” said LSU assistant coach Lars Jorgensen. “Cissy went like two seconds better.”
The coaches expect to receive the list of women who qualify for NCAAs this afternoon.
“Lindsay Staak is on the bubble,” said LSU head coach Jeff Cavana. “It could go either way.”
Staak had a provisional qualifying time which means she is not guaranteed a spot but has earned a time quick enough to be in contention.
“The men’s 200 and 400-yard medleys are also on the bubble,” Cavana said.
He said that if the men’s medleys are selected, then five more men will get the opportunity to travel to nationals. The men’s qualifiers will not be selected until next week.