Alabama
Louisiana State University
Alabama Swimming and Diving Men Beat LSU in Baton Rouge, 161-138
1/7/2017 3:01:00 PM | Swimming & Diving
BATON ROUGE, La. – The Alabama swimming and diving teams split against Southeastern Conference rival LSU Saturday morning. The Crimson Tide men beat the Tigers, 161-138, while the women fell to LSU, 189-110.
"Coming in to the weekend, I was a little unsure of what to expect because it's been so long since we've competed," UA head coach Dennis Pursley said. "The last meet was the Georgia Tech Invitational the week before Thanksgiving. We beat them up pretty good in training since and then they had the holidays. I was really pleased. They were a little sluggish in training the last couple of days coming into it but most of them bounced back and stood up and did a good job."
Pursley was pleased with the way the men's team took care of business in Baton Rouge on the Tigers' senior day.
"LSU took Auburn down to the last relay and almost won that meet," Pursley said. "So for us to come away with a strong win in their home pool was a good step for our men's team."
It was the second meet in as many days for the Tide women, who continued to make progress coming off a win at Tulane.
"The women are continuing to be more competitive," Pursley said. "We won a number of the races. We're closing the gap between our team and the top programs in the conference and in the country. It's not where we want to be at the end of the season but that's the case for everybody. We feel good about where we are right now."
Overall, the meet served as a checkpoint meet for the Tide.
"This is kind of the start of the home stretch coming down into the championship season," Pursley said. "This was a good opportunity for us to see where we are. I feel pretty good about that right now."
Seniors Connor Oslin and Pavel Romanov, junior Luke Kaliszak and sophomore Laurent Bams got the morning started for the Tide, winning the men's 400 medley relay with a combined time of 3:13.37. Later, Bams won the men's 200 freestyle, clocking a 1:38.90, and the 100 freestyle, with a 44.27.
The Tide's junior class posted a strong showing during the meet. Junior Mia Nonnenberg picked up the Tide's first individual win of the morning with her 16:44.40 in the women's 1,650 freestyle. She later nabbed a win in the women's 500 freestyle, touching the wall at 4:55.44. Nonnenberg seized her third individual victory of the day, winning the 400 individual medley with a 4:16.48. Kaliszak earned a win in the men's 100 backstroke with a 47.32. Junior Christopher Reid swam a 1:46.93 to win the 200 backstroke while junior Bailey Scott took top honors in the women's 50 freestyle, swimming a 22.96.
Freshman Zane Waddell won the men's 50 freestyle with a 20.13. Senior Anton McKee clinched the men's 200m breaststroke with a time of 1:58.50 before coming back and earning the Tide's final individual victory of the day, the men's 400 individual medley with a 3:59.12.
The Tide finished the meet with a win, taking top honors in the men's 400 freestyle relay. Sophomore Robert Howard and senior Alex Gray joined Bams and Waddell to win the relay in 3:25.30.
Up next, the Crimson Tide men and women will go on the road to take on Georgia Tech in Atlanta Friday, Jan. 20 at 2 p.m. CT.
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