The LSU swimming and diving team prepares for its last home meet of the season this weekend, as the women face Rice tonight and the men and women face Florida State on Saturday.
Coach Jeff Cavana said that he thinks the team will be ready.
“I think we can win all three of them,” Cavana said. “The women might be a little bit tougher against Florida State just because they’re a little bit higher ranked and they’re a little bit better quality than Rice, but with this being our last home meet of the year, Senior Day, our men and women should be fired up and ready to go.”
Cavana also pointed out the strengths of FSU.
“They’re very good in sprints,” Cavana said. “The breaststroke events in the women, butterfly events in the women, and their relays are very good. They’re peak in diving, both men and women, and on the men’s side they’re very good in the distance events.”
FSU’s women are ranked No. 18.
Senior swimmers Evan Martinec and Stephanie Smith said they are working really hard to qualify for the national meets at East Meadow, N.Y. and College Station, Texas, respectively.
Martinec said that he can achieve the NCAA qualifying time of 47.3 in the 100 backstroke.
“The A time is 47.3,” Martinec said. “I have the B time.”
Martinec’s best time in the event is a 46.9 last season. He got a 48.0 at the meet this past weekend.
“[If I] shave and taper and swim my hardest, I got it,” Martinec said.
Smith is attempting to reach the NCAA championships in the mile swim. The qualifying time is 16:23, but she has yet to compete in the event this season.
Smith said she hopes to achieve the time.
“It’s possible,” Smith said. “I’m not really sure though.”