With many new faces and a few old, the LSU swimming and diving team prepares for its fall season. Seniors Stephanie Smith, Robbie Moon and Chris Stanczyk have been named team captains for the year.
Smith, an All-American, had a successful season for the Tigers last year, breaking her own school records in the 1,000 and 1,650-yard freestyles. In 2002, she finished among the top seven best times in the Southeastern Conference in the 500, 1,000 and 1,650-yard freestyles. The Metairie native also qualified for the NCAA National Championships.
Moon highlighted his 2002 career with the second-best time of the season in the 100-yard breastroke at the SEC Championships with a time of 57.67.
Stanczyk had a team-high mark in the 200-yard freestyle last season (1:37.03). He was a member of the 200 and 400-yard freestyle relay teams that finished in fourth place at the SEC Championships.
Senior All-American Evan Martinec returns for the Tigers. Martinec broke his own school record last year at the NCAA championships in the 100-meter backstroke. He was named SEC Swimmer of the Week on Feb. 4.
Not returning this season is Laura Jo Leininger. Leininger was one of only three LSU female swimmers to qualify for last year’s NCAA championships. The Louisiana native transfered for her senior year to Texas Women’s University.
The men’s diving team is entirely new this season with the departure of last year’s lone male diver Kyle Van Arsdall. This season VanArsdall will be voluntarily assisting LSU’s diving coach Doug Shaffer.
Shaffer will work with freshmen Andy Crum, Alex Donkervoet, Adam Hebert and Andrew Keane to build the men’s diving program. Shaffer said it is more challenging not having any returning male divers. However, he is looking forward to working with the newcomers.
“The difference with an experienced group and freshmen is you have to tell freshmen everything,” Shaffer said. “But that’s the fun of it. The fun of it is preparing them and seeing the enthusiasm on their behalf.
Shaffer said his goals have not changed.
“We want to get to the NCAA’s, score and place,” he said.
Junior Jessica Wantz is the one returning female diver. Wantz had a successful season in 2002, finishing No. 4 at NCAA’s in the 3-meter diving event.
Freshmen Alyson Carlyon and Kali Saucier, both Washington natives, join Wantz to make up this year’s women’s diving team.
The annual Purple and Gold preseason intrasquad will take place Friday at 3 p.m. in the Natatorium. The season will officially begin for the Tigers Oct. 2 when LSU takes on Georgia at Athens.