Swimcloud

LSU Splits with Missouri

Junior Kara Kopcso won three individual events to lead the LSU women’s swimming and diving team to a 164-136 victory over No. 19 Missouri Thursday afternoon at the Natatorium.

The Lady Tigers won seven individual events and a relay. The balanced effort helped push the No. 23 women’s team to a 9-0 overall record and 2-0 mark in conference play.

“This was a fun and exciting dual meet,” LSU swimming coach Dave Geyer said. “It was another situation where we had some strengths where they had weaknesses and vice versa. I think the women found good control and we had a few more stronger events than they had today. The women’s team has evolved into what we need them to be heading into conference”

Kopcso began the run of four straight victories at the end of the meet for the women with a win in the 100 fly (54.17). She closed out the individual events by touching the wall first in the 200 IM with a time of 2:01.17. In the beginning, Kopcso finished first in the 100 fly (1:58.82)

In the final break, the divers provided a strong 1-2-3 finish. Senior Cassie Weil finished first on three-meter with a score of 303.98. Rileigh Knox and Allie Alter followed in second and third place respectively.

To close out the meet, the team of Leah Troskot, Haylee Knight, Megan Cox and Danielle Stirrat won the 400 free relay in 3:22.06. Devon Dabney, Tennyson Henry, Sophie Weber and Sophia Bisch also finished second in 3:29.27.

Cox was the first swimmer to win an individual event for LSU. The senior touched the wall first in the 200 free with a time of 1:49.25. Cox also finished second in the 200 free in 50.79.

Troskot swept the sprint free events for the second straight week. The junior recorded times of 23.29 in the 50 free and 50.68 in the 100 free.

Dabney finished second in both distance events for the Lady Tigers with times of 5:01.50 in the 500 free and 10:11.48 in the 1000 free.

For the men, freshman Thomas Smith broke the pool record in the 200 back with a time of 1:43.92 but it wasn’t enough as the men’s team fell to No. 10 Missouri, 155.5-141.5. In addition to the victory in the 200 back, Smith finished second in the 100 back (49.16) and 200 IM (1:50.90)

“It was a great swim for Thomas. He is coming out of winter training and feeling very fresh in that first event. He’s a talented young man and we’ve known that for awhile now,” Geyer said.

Logan Rysemus finished first in both individual events entered in. The junior finished the 100 back in 48.84 and the 100 fly in 48.24.

Junior Brandon Goldman also had a strong showing for the men. Goldman finished first in the 200 fly (1:49.41), second in the 200 back (1:48.95) and third in the 200 IM (1:51.13).

In the sprint freestyle events, senior Alex Linge touched the wall first in the 50 free (20.54) and second in the 100 free (44.57). Joao Mescolote finished second in the 50 free in 20.59.          

Sophomore Jake Markham finished second in both the 500 free (4:39.52) and 200 free (1:39.91). 

The men’s team of Linge, Rysemus, Tyler Harper and Markham closed out the meet with a win in the 400 free relay (2:59.87).

“I love the fight that we continue to show,” Geyer added. “We never quit in what we do and you could see that at the end of the meet. When we get into conference, some of the weaknesses and depth will spread out amongst the teams.”

In diving, junior Andrew Suchla finished third on three-meter with a score of 315.08 and second on one-meter with a score of 301.43.

“At the end of the day, going 1-2-3 in our final event carried a lot of momentum for our team,” LSU diving coach Doug Shaffer said. “I feel like overall we have a lot more room to improve and grow. I expect us to not peak at this point in time. At the same time, our urgency is discipline and execution. There are some things that we need to focus on right now going into the remaining meets.”

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