Alabama Men, Women Edge LSU–First Win Over Tigers Since 1996

TUSCALOOSA, Ala., Nov. 2. THE Alabama swimming and diving teams went down to the wire with the LSU Tigers here tonight at the Don Gambril Olympic Pool and came away with its first victories against the Tigers since 1996.

Both the men and women's meets came down to the last relay. Alabama's men won 156-142 while the women downed the Tigers 157-142. The Crimson Tide went
to 1-0 on the season while LSU's men fell to 2-2 and the Tiger women posted their first loss of the season, going to 5-1.

It marked the first time that either the Alabama men or the women have beaten LSU since the 1996 season.

"I'm really pleased with the way we raced tonight," Alabama head coach Don Wagner said. "We knew coming in that LSU was going to swim us tough. They've got a lot of depth, so we knew that we'd have a fight on our hands."

Alabama's women started the meet with a decisive win in the 400 medley relay. Sophomores Michelle King, Anne Poleska, Catalina Casura and Ann Ross out-distanced LSU's top four by two seconds.

"I was a bit surprised by the women's 400 medley relay," Wagner said. "We didn't overload it all the way, so for us to come out top in that one was a
big boost."

Alabama took first, second and third in the 100 breaststroke with senior Marcy Warriner taking top honors, followed by Poleska and senior Belinda
Green.

Warriner came back to win the 50 freestyle followed by sophomore Lisa Andersson in second. Sophomore Lane Bassham and junior Katherine Bortenlanger also packed a one-two punch. Bassham won the one-meter diving
event with Bortenlanger taking second. Bassham also won the three-meter board.

Poleska and sophomore Flavia Sugimori took first and second respectively in the 200 breaststroke. Poleska came back to win the 200 IM.

The Tide women finished off the evening with a two-second victory in the 400 freestyle relay. Freshman Irini Kosta combined with Warriner, Ross and Andersson to procure the overall win for the Tide.

"It was a great day for our women's team," Wagner said. "We've struggled to find a sense of self. I think they found that tonight. They're a tough group, I think they surprised themselves."

Freshman Franck Southon touched out LSU's Jaynes Myles by three tenths of a second in the 1000 freestyle to give Alabama it's first win of the night. Southon came back later in the meet to post a win in the 200 backstroke.

Alabama came back with a one-two punch in the 200 freestyle when sophomores James Willcox and Michael Piggasou took first and second respectively. Willcox also won the 500 freestyle.

Freshman sensation Stefan Gherghel had a big night, winning the 200 butterfly, 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly.

With the meet still in the balance, sophomores Ben Worby and Jordie Proffitt combined with Southon to sweep the top three spots in the meets last
individual event, the 200 IM.

Pigasou, Willcox, sophomore Brendan Ashby and Gherghel combined to win the 400 freestyle relay by nearly two second and put the meet away for the Crimson Tide.

"A lot of guys who were non-factors last year have really stepped up and made their presence felt this year," Wagner said. "Combined with our rookies, we're a much improved squad – light years ahead of where we were last year."

Alabama heads down to the Plains for its next dual meet, facing Auburn November 16.

Women's Team Scores
Place School Points
1 University of Alabama 157
2 Louisiana State University 142

Men's Team Scores
Place School Points
1 University of Alabama 156
2 Louisiana State University 142

RESULTS

Event 1 Women 400 Yard Medley Relay

1 Alabama A 3:50.59
1) King, Michele 2) Poleska, Anne 3) Casaru, Catalina 4) Ross, Ann

2 LSU A 3:52.47
1) Staak, Lindsay, 2) Ostroski, Lauren, 3) Leach, Mandy, 4) Leslie, Donna

3 LSU B 3:59.89
1) Martinez, Cindy, 2) Harvey, Lauren, 3) Coy, Dawn, 4) Hughes, Julie

Event 2 Men 400 Yard Medley Relay
1 LSU A 3:21.63
1) Martinec, Evan, 2) Gluck, Steve, 3) Jotautas, Mike, 4) Paez, Fransisco

2 Alabama A 3:23.98
1) Proffitt, Jordie, 2) Reeves, Charles, 3) Flamion, Chris, 4) Ashby, Brendan

3 LSU B 3:27.44
1) Tarantino, Nick, 2) Rucker, Matthew, 3) Lowe, Neil, 4) Robelot, Reed

4 LSU C x3:33.24
1) Alvarez, B.J., 2) Boyes, Justin, 3) Strecker, Jared, 4) Latz, Martin

5 Alabama B 3:38.84
1) Mueller, Evan, 2) Hall, Adam, 3) Smith, Jeff, 4) Willard, Brad

Event 3 Women 1000 Yard Freestyle
1 Smith, Stephanie LSU 10:07.39
2 Hardesty, Alice LSU 10:25.58
3 McGiffin, Liz Alabama 10:45.20
4 Davidson, Katy Alabama 10:53.45

Event 4 Men 1000 Yard Freestyle
1 Southon, Franck Alabama 9:23.53
2 Jaynes, Myles LSU 9:23.86
3 Rowe, Dennis LSU 9:38.23
4 Jollands, Grant Alabama 9:43.38
5 Smith, Jeff Alabama 10:34.99

Event 5 Women 200 Yard Freestyle
1 Leach, Mandy LSU 1:51.22
2 Kosta, Irini Alabama 1:51.53
3 Andersson, Lisa Alabama 1:53.43
4 Leslie, Donna LSU 1:53.59
5 Beadle, Margaret LSU 1:56.24
6 McCreless, Holly Alabama 2:13.47

Event 6 Men 200 Yard Freestyle
1 Willcox, James Alabama 1:40.42
2 Pigassou, Michael Alabama 1:41.19
3 Paez, Fransisco LSU 1:42.84
4 Flamion, Chris Alabama 1:42.85
5 Buffingtion, Ross LSU 1:44.70
6 Latz, Martin LSU 1:45.01
7 Stanczyk, Chris LSU x1:47.34

Event 7 Women 100 Yard Backstroke
1 Staak, Lindsay LSU 56.90
2 King, Michele Alabama 57.34
3 Ross, Ann Alabama 58.68
4 Martinez, Cindy LSU 59.80
5 McGiffin, Liz Alabama 1:01.76
6 Kerr, Kelly Alabama x1:04.22

Event 8 Men 100 Yard Backstroke
1 Martinec, Evan LSU 50.06
2 Proffitt, Jordie Alabama 50.80
3 Alvarez, B.J. LSU 52.16
4 Ashby, Brendan Alabama 52.99
5 Tarantino, Nick LSU 55.72
6 Willard, Brad Alabama 58.57

Event 9 Women 100 Yard Breaststroke
1 Warriner, Marcy Alabama 1:03.49
2 Poleska, Anne Alabama 1:04.18
3 Green, Belinda Alabama 1:05.99
4 Harvey, Lauren LSU 1:06.68
5 Ostroski, Lauren LSU 1:06.98
6 Sugimori, Flavia Alabama x1:07.00

Event 10 Men 100 Yard Breaststroke
1 Gluck, Steve LSU 56.53
2 Reeves, Charles Alabama 56.98
3 Mueller, Evan Alabama 59.41
4 Worby, Ben Alabama 59.59
5 Boyes, Justin LSU 59.79
6 Hall, Adam Alabama x1:02.25

Event 11 Women 200 Yard Butterfly
1 Gathings, Margot LSU 2:04.46
2 Richards, Chere LSU 2:06.33
3 Casaru, Catalina Alabama 2:06.35
4 Leininger, Laura Jo LSU 2:06.65
5 Miatto, Renata Alabama 2:15.22

Event 12 Men 200 Yard Butterfly
1 Gherghel, Stefan Alabama 1:48.74
2 Strecker, Jared LSU 1:55.28
3 Jaynes, Myles LSU 1:55.82
4 Jollands, Grant Alabama 1:56.16
5 Cochran, Ryan LSU 1:56.84

Event 13 Women 50 Yard Freestyle
1 Warriner, Marcy Alabama 24.00
2 Andersson, Lisa Alabama 24.19
3 Hughes, Julie LSU 24.72
4 Miltenberger, Cackey LSU 24.83
5 Coy, Dawn LSU 24.85
6 King, Michele Alabama 24.94
7 Moore, Margaret Ann LSU x25.50

Event 14 Men 50 Yard Freestyle
1 Rucker, Matthew LSU 21.19
2 Pigassou, Michael Alabama 21.35
3 Ashby, Brendan Alabama 21.48
4 Elder, Matt LSU 21.51
5 Lowe, Neil LSU 21.70
6 Robelot, Reed LSU x21.80
7 Willard, Brad Alabama 22.30
8 Hall, Adam Alabama x22.50

Event 15 Women 1 mtr Diving
1 Bassham, Lane Alabama 187.05
2 Bortenlanger, Katherine Alabama 181.00
3 Gorst, Barb LSU 178.70
4 Wantz, Jessica LSU 175.10
5 Coryell, Michelle LSU 170.00
6 Mitias, Miranda Alabama 154.45
7 Winters, Holly LSU x153.25
8 Patterson, Lainee Alabama x124.45

Event 16 Men 1 mtr Diving
1 Manecke, Kevin LSU 181.25
2 Smith, Stewart Alabama 179.20
3 VanArsdall, Kyle LSU 179.05
4 DiGiacco, Anthony Alabama 166.25

Event 17 Women 100 Yard Freestyle
1 Leach, Mandy LSU 51.21
2 Kosta, Irini Alabama 52.01
3 Warriner, Marcy Alabama 53.04
4 Beadle, Margaret LSU 53.59
5 Hughes, Julie LSU 54.21
6 Moore, Margaret Ann LSU x54.71
7 Davidson, Katy Alabama 57.02

Event 18 Men 100 Yard Freestyle
1 Gherghel, Stefan Alabama 46.00
2 Paez, Fransisco LSU 46.32
3 Pigassou, Michael Alabama 46.38
4 Willcox, James Alabama 46.84
5 Robelot, Reed LSU 47.55
6 Latz, Martin LSU 48.41
7 Smith, Jeff Alabama x49.56
8 Stanczyk, Chris LSU x50.19

Event 19 Women 200 Yard Backstroke
1 Casaru, Catalina Alabama 2:05.07
2 Staak, Lindsay LSU 2:05.17
3 Ross, Ann Alabama 2:06.86
4 Martinez, Cindy LSU 2:08.50
5 McGiffin, Liz Alabama 2:14.50
6 Kerr, Kelly Alabama x2:18.80

Event 20 Men 200 Yard Backstroke
1 Southon, Franck Alabama 1:50.64
2 Martinec, Evan LSU 1:50.82
3 Proffitt, Jordie Alabama 1:52.41
4 Jotautas, Mike LSU 1:52.44
5 Alvarez, B.J. LSU 2:00.61
6 Tarantino, Nick LSU x2:03.40

Event 21 Women 200 Yard Breaststroke
1 Poleska, Anne Alabama 2:20.65
2 Sugimori, Flavia Alabama 2:22.07
3 Ostroski, Lauren LSU 2:22.19
4 Green, Belinda Alabama 2:22.66
5 Harvey, Lauren LSU 2:24.76
6 Richards, Chere LSU 2:25.79
7 McCreless, Holly Alabama x2:36.33

Event 22 Men 200 Yard Breaststroke
1 Gluck, Steve LSU 2:05.56
2 Reeves, Charles Alabama 2:06.50
3 Rucker, Matthew LSU 2:07.16
4 Worby, Ben Alabama 2:08.80
5 Mueller, Evan Alabama 2:10.07
6 Boyes, Justin LSU 2:10.83
7 Hall, Adam Alabama x2:19.36

Event 23 Women 500 Yard Freestyle
1 Smith, Stephanie LSU 4:56.38
2 Leslie, Donna LSU 5:02.76
3 Andersson, Lisa Alabama 5:04.92
4 Hardesty, Alice LSU 5:12.18
5 Miatto, Renata Alabama 5:20.82
6 Davidson, Katy Alabama 5:27.03

Event 24 Men 500 Yard Freestyle
1 Willcox, James Alabama 4:35.81
2 Jaynes, Myles LSU 4:39.56
3 Buffingtion, Ross LSU 4:39.59
4 Rowe, Dennis LSU 4:43.62
5 Jollands, Grant Alabama 4:46.58
6 Cochran, Ryan LSU x4:53.34

Event 25 Women 100 Yard Butterfly
1 Leach, Mandy LSU 57.00
2 King, Michele Alabama 57.97
3 Leininger, Laura Jo LSU 58.01
4 Coy, Dawn LSU 58.11
5 Kosta, Irini Alabama 58.18
6 Kerr, Kelly Alabama 1:08.94

Event 26 Men 100 Yard Butterfly
1 Gherghel, Stefan Alabama 49.49
2 Jotautas, Mike LSU 49.95
3 Lowe, Neil LSU 50.52
4 Flamion, Chris Alabama 51.31
5 Strecker, Jared LSU 51.67
6 Mueller, Evan Alabama 53.89

Event 27 Women 3 mtr Diving
1 Bassham, Lane Alabama 203.40
2 Gorst, Barb LSU 182.30
3 Bortenlanger, Katherine Alabama 182.10
4 Coryell, Michelle LSU 181.10
5 Mitias, Miranda Alabama 172.40
6 Wantz, Jessica LSU 170.35
7 Winters, Holly LSU x167.25
8 Patterson, Lainee Alabama x119.10

Event 28 Men 3 mtr Diving
1 VanArsdall, Kyle LSU 188.00
2 Manecke, Kevin LSU 186.55
3 Smith, Stewart Alabama 170.10
4 DiGiacco, Anthony Alabama 145.60

Event 29 Women 200 Yard IM
1 Poleska, Anne Alabama 2:05.84
2 Gathings, Margot LSU 2:07.44
3 Casaru, Catalina Alabama 2:07.71
4 Richards, Chere LSU 2:11.05
5 Ostroski, Lauren LSU 2:12.20
6 Green, Belinda Alabama 2:12.79
7 Harvey, Lauren LSU x2:12.82
8 Miatto, Renata Alabama x2:17.60

Event 30 Men 200 Yard IM
1 Worby, Ben Alabama 1:52.82
2 Proffitt, Jordie Alabama 1:53.69
3 Southon, Franck Alabama 1:53.83
4 Gluck, Steve LSU 1:54.36
5 Boyes, Justin LSU 1:56.07

Event 31 Women 400 Yard Freestyle Relay
1 Alabama A 3:29.72
1) Kosta, Irini, 2) Warriner, Marcy, 3) Ross, Ann, 4) Andersson, Lisa

2 LSU B 3:31.72
1) Hughes, Julie, 2) Coy, Dawn, 3) Beadle, Margaret, 4) Leslie, Donna

3 LSU A 3:36.51
1) Moore, Margaret Ann, 2) Miltenberger, Cackey, 3) Martinez, Cindy, 4) Smith, Stephanie

4 Alabama B 3:48.35
1) Davidson, Katy, 2) Miatto, Renata, 3) McGiffin, Liz, 4) Green, Belinda

Event 32 Men 400 Yard Freestyle Relay
1 Alabama A 3:02.53
1) Pigassou, Michael, 2) Willcox, James, 3) Ashby, Brendan, 4) Gherghel, Stefan

2 LSU C 3:04.46
1) Paez, Fransisco, 2) Martinec, Evan, 3) Stanczyk, Chris, 4) Rucker, Matthew

3 LSU B 3:08.62
1) Lowe, Neil, 2) Robelot, Reed, 3) Strecker, Jared, 4) latz, Martin

4 Alabama B 3:10.16
1) Flamion, Chris, 2) Jollands, Grant, 3) Southon, Franck, 4) Worby, Ben

5 LSU A x3:10.66
1) Elder, Matt, 2) Buffingtion, Ross, 3) Jotautas, Mike, 4) Alvarez, B.J.

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