LSU swimming and diving co-head coaches Dave Geyer and Doug Shaffer announced the signing of eight female swimmers, two female divers and one male diver Wednesday.
The signing class was highlighted by top-100 recruit Olivia Paskulin. The Point-Club, Quebec, Canada and two-time Olympic Trials qualifier is ranked 85th in the 2016 class. In addition to her trials qualifier accomplishments, Paskuln is also a three-time World Championship Trials participant. She has also been selected to the 2013 Canadian Junior Worlds team and 2011 Norther American Challenge Cup team.
“Olivia will help us fill out a breaststroke spot this coming year for us,” Geyer said. “She has thrived at short course meters racing in Canada and only swam in a yards pool once where she achieved times that would have scored at SEC Championships.”
Nicol Rozier is from Couer d Alene, Idaho and is the top ranked swimmer in the state. Rozier won district championships in the 200 IM and 100 breast. The varsity captain of the Coeur d’Alene swim team also owns the state record in the 200 IM.
“Nicole is a great young woman that has huge upside to her coming from a smaller swimming area,” Geyer added. “Her club coach has given her high praise and feels that the best is still ahead of her. Nicole can come in and fill in many spots in our dual meet line up but we are certainly looking at her development in the individual medley.”
Baton Rouge native and Clayton Black is the state’s top swimmer. The Tiger Aquatics and Saint Joseph’s Academy swimmer competed at the Speedo Champions Series in Austin, Texas this summer where she finished 12th in the 200free (2:05.88) and 16th in the 400 free (4:26.70). Black finished second in the 500 free at last year’s state championship and is the reigning champion in the 200 free (1:49.19).
“We are thrilled that Clayton chose to stay in state, swim at LSU and represent this great state,” Geyer said. “She truly knows and understands the passion that is involved with being an LSU Tiger as she has been around it her whole life.”
Lauren McIntosh of Palm Harbor, Florida is the next signee of the class. McIntosh has finished in the top-eight at the FHSAA 4A state meet four times. She placed fourth in the 50 free and eighth in the 100 free during her sophomore and junior season. In short course, she owns top times of 23.60 in the 50 free and 51.91 in the 100 free.
“Lauren comes from a great club program in Florida that quietly develops not only outstanding athletes but outstanding people,” Geyer added. “Lauren has the tools to develop into an elite sprinter and we can’t wait for her to arrive on campus.”
Helen Grossman, of West Long Beach, N.J., is a top-15 swimmer in the state and will add depth to the fly events for the Lady Tigers. Grossman holds seven New Jersey local swim club records. The Winter Junior Nationals qualifier owns top times of 54.99 in the 100-yard fly and 2:02.36 in the 200-yard fly.
“Helen has been a dominant feature in New Jersey swimming her age group career. Watching her swim, we know that there is still a lot of growth ahead of her and she will definitely have the expectation to come in and train and compete at an elite level in her butterfly,” Geyer said.
Alexandria Ham is ranked as the fifth-best swimmer in the state of Georgia by collegeswimming.com. Ham is a two-time finalist at the state championships where she finished third in the 200-yard IM (2:05.71) and eighth in the 100-yard back (58.65). A Winter Nationals qualifier in the 200-yard IM and 400-meter IM, Hamm will fill a role in the individual medley and backstroke events next season.
“Alexandria had a great long course season this summer, and we feel that she is going to make huge strides during her senior year in the water,” Geyer said. “She comes from a great club program that we have been able to pull wonderful swimmers from, including current freshman Tyler Harper.”
Alexandria Galea is another New Jersey native headed to Baton Rouge. The three-time A finalist at the New Jersey High School Meet of Champions rounds out the women’s swimming class. The two-time Scholastic All-American and National AP Scholar Award Winner will provide depth to the backstroke and butterfly events.
“Andrea also has spent her time in the New Jersey club ranks and we look for her to grow in the college athletic environment and contribute to our program in,” Geyer said. “She is a wonderful young woman and fell in love with our campus and our program the moment she stepped foot on it. We look for her to show that passion in the water as well.”
Sven Saemundsson is the lone male swimmer that signed with LSU for the class. The Croatia native is ranked 55th by collegeswimming.com and fills a spot in the distance events for the Tigers. Saemundsson has represented his country on the international stage at various meets, including the FINA World Championships an
“Sven fills a massive spot for us in the distance events,” Geyer added. “He has represented his country at international levels and is focused this year in putting himself in a position to swim at the Olympics in Rio. We have had a wonderful time recruiting Sven and his maturation he has shown in communication with not only our program but the engineering department lets us know that he is here to be a great student athlete.”
Divers Makayla Robillard and Lizzie Cui complete the signing class for this year. Robillard comes from YCF Diving in Orlando, Florida where she has competed at the age group, YMCA and senior national levels. Robillard swept the platform, three-meter and one-meter events at the 2015 YMCA 16-21 National Championships in May.
Makayla is a dynamic three event diver with tremendous passion and drive to excel,” Shaffer said. “Makayla has a fun personality and is all business in the pool. She will step in and make an immediate impact on our program.”
Lizzie Cui is the final member of the swimming and diving class. Cui hails from the Auckland Diving Club and Auckland, New Zeeland where she is a member of the national team. She is a five-time national champion and has participated in world championships and numerous international competitions.
“Lizzie is a well-rounded young woman with a fierce competitive spirit and drive to be successful in and out of the pool,” Shaffer added. “As a member of the New Zealand National Team, Lizzie hopes of make the 2016 Olympics in Rio. She has a proven track record of success in and out of the classroom as she has also been named the top academic student at Henderson High School the past three years.”
