Classes have yet to start, but the Stanford men’s swimming team has already tested the waters for the 2006-2007 season. The men suited up last Friday in Baton Rouge, La., and demolished Louisiana State in their first dual meet of the season, 84-54.

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Senior Andy Grant, pictured doing the backstroke, specializes in the 200- and 500-yard frees. The middle distance and distance freestyle competitor holds a school record in the 200-yard free (1:33:97). He also brought home the Pac-10 title in that event last season. #gallery http://daily.stanford.edu/image/full/6159
Adrian Gaitan

Senior Andy Grant, pictured doing the backstroke, specializes in the 200- and 500-yard frees. The middle distance and distance freestyle competitor holds a school record in the 200-yard free (1:33:97). He also brought home the Pac-10 title in that event last season.

It was not only the first meet ever between the Stanford and LSU swim teams, but also the nation’s first NCAA swimming competition of the new school year. The men hope that being first to race this season will also translate into more first places later on.

The victory was a result of talent and heart, since the men have just hopped back in the pool for the season a week ago. Though no records were broken at the meet, the No. 2 Cardinal showed promise for bigger things to come, winning 12 of the 14 swimming events.

The day’s top scorers were seniors Hongzhe Sun and Shaun Phillips. Sun was the only man to win three individual events, touching first in the 100- and 200-yard backstrokes and the 400-individual medley. Phillips took first the 500- and 1000-yard freestyles. He was also teamed up with fellow seniors Kyle Ransom and Matt Crowe and freshman Alex Coville as part of the winning 200-free relay team. Coville was the only one of eight new freshmen to score at the meet.

Other event winners for the Card were Crowe in the 100-free, Ben Wildman-Tobriner in the 50-free, Danny Beal in the 200-free, Chris Ash in the 100-breaststroke and BJ Johnson in the 200-breast.

The only swimming events won by the Tigers were butterfly events. Wildman-Tobriner was out-touched by LSU’s Christopher Lubenau in the 100-fly, while junior Phillip Morrison finished closely behind Tiger Sean LeNeave for second place in the 200-fly. The two diving events were also won by LSU divers, as Stanford’s diving team was not present.

Though perhaps not the most stressful competition of the year, the Cardinal’s chances for yet another undefeated dual meet season still look promising. The Card will splash back into competition against University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif. on Oct. 20.