The Swimming and Diving team is gearing up for the spring half of 2003-04 and coach Jeff Cavana said the team has a starting point to build from.
“Well, we’re basically getting a pace,” Cavana said. “The meets that we had give us a little bit of an indication of where we’re at early on.”
The team swept UL-Monroe at the LSU Natatorium on Saturday afternoon. The men’s team won 130-84, while the women took care of business 142-68.
The Tigers have key home meets against Texas A&M on Jan. 23 and Florida State on Jan. 31.
“We have two big meets coming up in January,” Cavana said. “We’d like to try and win those two meets. They are against some pretty good competition.”
Cavana said he expects last year’s All-Americans will contribute well again this season.
“Evan Martinec, who’s an All-American, he finished fifth in the country last year in 100 back[stroke],” Cavana said. “[He] was a big part of our relays. We get Francisco Paez, he was an All-American in medley relays. For the women, Stephanie Smith is a returning All-American in distance events. Lindsay Staak almost made the NCAA meet. Jessica Wantz, one of our divers, was an All-American a year ago.”
Senior Stephanie Smith said she has not done well so far because of injuries, but hopes to get better as the season progresses.
“I’ve been injured so I haven’t been able to train and I had to sit out a couple of meets as well,” said Smith. “I’d like to be a lot better than I was before. I’m still trying to train, I haven’t been able to train like I have in the past. I’d like to just do the best that I can.”
Senior Evan Martinec said he is happy with his performance but still hopes to do better.
“I’ve gotten the best times,” Martinec said. “[I still want] to get better.”
Swimming and diving ready for upcoming meets
January 21, 2004