LSU Splits Duel Meet with Florida State; MacNeil Clocks 47.40 100 Free Relay Split

LSU vs FLORIDA STATE (MEN’S & WOMEN’S DUAL)

• Saturday, January 7, 2023
• LSU Natatorium, Baton Rouge, LA
• SCY (25 yards)
• Results

TEAM SCORES

MEN

1. Florida State – 180
2. LSU – 120

WOMEN

1. LSU – 180.5
2. Florida State – 119.5

LSU hosted Florida for a dual meet this past weekend, splitting the meet. Florida State won the men’s meet in a 180-120 decision while LSU won the women’s meet 180.5-119.5.

Maggie MacNeil was huge for the Tigers, winning both of her individual events. MacNeil first won the women’s 50 free in 22.17, touching first by well over a second. She then went on to win the women’s 100 fly, swimming a 52.01. Florida State’s Sophie Freeman was out with MacNeil on the first 50, splitting 24.87 to MacNeil’s 24.77. MacNeil then pulled away from Freeman in a big way on the final 50, splitting 27.24 to Freeman’s 29.16.

MacNeil also helped both LSU women’s relays to victory. In the women’s 200 medley relay, MacNeil (23.89), Hannah Womer (28.34), Hannah Bellina (24.55), and Katarina Milutinovich (22.84) teamed up to give LSU the win in 1:39.62. MacNeil then contributed a huge 47.40 on the second leg of LSU’s 400 free relay, giving the team a massive lead. Reagan Osborne led off in 51.51, Megan Barnes split 50.95 on the third leg, and Michaela De Villiers anchored in 49.69. LSU finished in 3:19.55, beating Florida State handily.

After coming in second in the women’s 100 fly, FSU’s Sophie Freeman won the 200 fly convincingly, posting a 1:59.93.

LSU’s Megan Barnes won the women’s 200 free in 1:49.56, pulling away from the field on the third 50 of the race. Barnes then went on to win the women’s 500 free with a 4:56.56.

The Tigers made it a sweep of the women’s free events, as Jolee Liles won the women’s 1000 free in 10:01.87 and Katarina Milutinovich tied for the first in the women’s 100 free with a 50.79. Milutinovich tied with Florida State’s Gloria Muzito in the 100 free.

Ella Varga was another double event winner for LSU, taking the women’s 100 and 200 backstrokes. In the 100 back, Varga swam a 55.30, holding off a late charge by FSU’s Maddie MacDonald (55.41). Varga then went on to win the 200 back in 1:57.40, touching as the only swimmer in the field under 2:00.

Hannah Womer won the women’s 200 IM for LSU, clocking a 2:02.61. She established a big early lead on fly, then expanded that lead through the back and breast 50s.

Florida State swept the women’s breaststroke events. Maddy Huggins won the women’s 100 breast in 1:02.44, while Julia Mansson took the 200 breast in 2:15.77.

LSU’s Brooks Curry was the bright spot for the Tigers’ men’s team, sweeping the men’s sprint free events. Curry won the men’s 50 free in 19.57, finishing as the only swimmer in the field under 20 seconds. He then went on to win the 100 free in 43.61, touching first by nearly a full second.

Curry also helped lead the LSU men’s 400 free relay to victory. Andrew Garon (44.26), Curry (42.03), Griffin Curtis (44.48), and Noah Cumby (43.99) combined for a 2:54.76, winning the race by over two seconds.

Curry threw down a blistering 18.55 anchor split on LSU’s 200 medley relay, though the Tigers still fell to the Seminoles in that race. Florida State’s Mason Herbet (21.59), Tommaso Baravelli (24.33), Adrian Aguilar (21.59), and Peter Varjasi (19.64) teamed up for a 1:27.15.

Herbet was a double event winner for the Seminoles, winning the men’s 100 back and 100 fly. In the 100 back, Herbet swam a 46.72, winning the race by a massive margin. He then took the 100 fly in 47.47, winning that race by over a second.

Baravelli would go on from the relay to sweep the men’s breaststroke events. In the 100 breast, Baravelli swam a 54.18. He then won the 200 breast in 1:58.29, touching first by over four seconds.

Varjarsi went on to win the men’s 200 IM, swimming a 1:48.51 to touch first by well over two seconds. He established his lead fully on the breaststroke leg, leaving no doubt he would win the race as he turned for freestyle.

Florida State’s Yordan Yanchev swept the men’s distance events, clocking a 4:25.18 in the 500 free and 9:16.46 in the 1000 free.

FSU’s Arijus Pavlidi won the men’s 200 back in 1:46.18, taking the race over on the back half.

Carlos Vasquez (Florida State) won the men’s 200 fly in a photo finish with LSU’s Gavin Rogers. Rogers held a slim lead at the 100 mark, then Vasquez inched ahead on the third 50. Vasquez was able to hold onto the lead by the narrowest of margins on the final lap, finishing in 1:49.84 to Rogers’ 1:49.85.

LSU’s Andrew Garon won the men’s 200 free in 1:37.88, edging out FSU’s David Quirie (1:37.91) at the finish.

DIVING WINNERS

• Women’s 1-meter: Samantha Vear (FSU) – 307.73
• Women’s 3-meter: Chiara Pellacani (LSU) – 353.33
• Men’s 1-meter: Zayne Danielewicz (LSU) – 344.40
• Men’s 3-meter: Tazman Abramowicz (FSU) – 367.43