Alabama
LSU
Swimming and Diving Opens Season with SEC Wins Over LSU
10/24/2003 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama swimming and diving teams got the 2003-04 season off to a fast start Friday afternoon, as both the men and the women's squads doused the LSU Tigers here at the Gambril Olympic Pool.
Alabama's men beat the Tigers 138-99 while the women cruised over the Lady Tigers 137-104. Not only did the latest edition of the Crimson Tide start the year with a win at home over a Southeastern Conference opponent, but first-year Alabama coach Eric McIlquham also claimed the first victory of his Tide tenure.
"It was good to get the win," McIlquham said. "The kids were very excited to get things going, maybe a little too excited a the start, but they did a nice job and this gives us a good place to work from for the rest of the season."
The Tide started the meet out in the hole when both the men and the women had a relay disqualified in the first event of the meet, the women for an illegal turn and the men for a false start. But that would prove to be the only down note of the meet.
The Tide women won nine of 13 events while the men took 10 of 13.
For the women, senior Lane Bassham won both one and three-meter boards, scoring 277.73 and 319.58 points respectively. Rookie Arlene Semeco won both the 50 and 100 freestyles, touching the wall at 23.56 and 51.14 respectively while fellow newcomer Melina Bassino won the 200 freestyle, turning in a 1:52.34. Freshman Nichole Weathermann extended the Tide's freestyle dominance on the day, winning the 500 freestyle with a 5:04.01. Sophomore Victoria Genova swam a 2:04.63 in the 200 butterfly, good for the win.
On the men's side of the slate, Junior Stewart Smith won the one and three-meter boards, turning in marks of 296.63 and 298.05 respectively. Sophomore JT Jones outraced LSU's Myles Jaynes in the 1000 freestyle, out-touching the Tiger by less than two-tenths, 9:26.20 - 9:26.38. Jones also won the 200 butterfly with a 1:54.33. Sophomore Darren Erasmus won the 100 freestyle with a 46.24 while junior Franck Southon won the 200 backstroke with a 1:52.36.
Senior James Willcox won the 200 freestyle with a quick 1:40.76 while classmates Brendan Ashby and Ben Worby chipped in wins of their own. Ashby won the 50 freestyle with a 21.29 and Worby's 1:54.15 in the 200 IM was good for first place. Worby also won the 200 breaststroke, touching at 2:09.45.
Alabama heads out onto the road next weekend, facing Delta State, Louisiana-Monroe and Drury in Cleveland, Miss. Friday, October 31 at 5 p.m.
