LSU swim teams open season at home Friday with Tulane, Vanderbilt

The LSU women’s swimming team opens its 2022-23 season against the Vanderbilt Commodores and Tulane Green Wave at the LSU Natatorium Frida at noon.

“We are very excited to have Vanderbilt and Tulane coming in to compete at the LSU Natatorium,” LSU first year coach Rick Bishop said. “It’s going to be an awesome opportunity for our women to get up and race against some great competition very early in the season. In addition, the opportunity to recognize 50 years of women in athletics is not only a monumental celebration for our women and our sport but an incredible salute to every woman across the landscape of athletics.”

LSU takes on the Commodores and Green Wave in the regular-season premiere after competing in an intrasquad Saturday, Sept. 17. The annual Purple and Gold intrasquad contained incredible competition with Gold closing out the victory against Purple in a close 261-260 score.

This year’s women’s squad adds some impressive swimmers including Olympic gold medalist Maggie MacNeil. She’s been a dominant swimmer at the University of Michigan under Bishop before transferring to LSU.

MacNeil won gold in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the 100 fly (55.59).

In addition to MacNeil, LSU added Jade Hannah, a highly touted transfer from the University of Southern California. Hannah won the FINA World Championship in the 100 back and 200 back and is expected to give the Tigers greater depth in the backstroke events.

LSU returns record holders and SEC scorers to the pool in Jenna Bridges, who had an impressive freshman season looks to build on her success. During the 2021 season, Bridges collected a school record in the 500 free, which sits at 4:43.87.

Katarina Milutinovich, a veteran of the women’s swimming team and coming off a trip to the NCAA Championships, has higher aspirations this season.

Before competing in the freestyle events inside the McAuley Aquatic Center, she faced off against her conference foes and scored in the top-12 of each event she appeared in at the SEC Championships.

The meet Friday afternoon won’t feature a diving portion. Live stats for the swimming events can be found on MeetMobile.

The men’s team and the divers are set to join the women’s swimming team at the Tigers’ first dual meet against South Carolina on Oct. 8 at 9 a.m. CT.