The LSU women have picked up another verbal commitment, as Victor Swim Club‘s Alyssa Helak will be joining the Tigers next fall.
“I chose LSU because the team and coaches made me feel like I was at home. I’m so excited to further my academic and swimming career at such an outstanding school. Geaux Tigers.”
Helak is a freestyle/backstroker, and could have an immediate scoring impact for LSU at the SEC Championship meet.
Last season, Helak was a qualifier for the 2015 Speedo Winter Juniors (East). There, she competed in 5 events: The 200 free, 500 free, 100 back, 200 back, and 200 IM. She also swam a personal best time with her 1:49.93 leadoff on the 800 free relay.
Helak’s Top Times:
| Event | Best time |
| 50 free | 24.67 |
| 100 free | 52.33 |
| 200 free | 1:49.93 |
| 500 free | 4:53.41 |
| 1650 free | 16:50.70 |
| 100 back | 56.37 |
| 200 back | 1:59.44 |
Photo courtesy of Michael Murray
Helak has already been sub-17 minutes in the mile, clocking her personal best 16:50.70 at the 2016 Niagara LSC Championships. Last season, it took a 16:42.72 to score in the 1650 at the SEC Championships, so Helak isn’t far from developing into a conference scorer as a freshman.
At the end of this season, LSU will have graduated Devon Dabney, their only returning distance free scorer from SECs. However, Helak’s distance free training group will include Tennyson Henry, who swam the 200 free and 500 free as a freshman at the 2016 SEC meet. She’ll also have Haylee Knight, who just missed the C-final of the 100 back, as a backstroke training partner.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email to [email protected].