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NCSA bronze medalist Levi Thome of Cypress, Texas will join the Tigers of LSU this fall. Thome excels in the breaststroke, IM, and sprint freestyle events.
“I am excited to announce my verbal commitment to further my athletic and academic career at Louisiana State University. I’d like to thank all my coaches, family, and friends who supported me through my journey. Can’t wait to move #4ward to swim for LSU. Geaux Tigers!!! ”
Thome swims club for Swim Streamline at Northampton. At the 2023 Speedo Sectionals in College Station, Thome finished 6th overall in the 100 free with a new best time of 44.79 seconds. Last summer at the NCSA Summer Championships, Thome picked up 3rd place in the 100m freestyle, swimming a Winter Junior National Qualifying time of 51.46.
Thome recently completed his senior season of high school swimming with Bridgeland High School in Houston, where he was one of only two swimmers to advance to the State Championship for Bridgeland. At the Texas University Interscholastic League (UIL) High School State Championships this year Thome was a 2x A finalist, placing 4th in the 200 IM (1:47.18) and 5th in the 100 free (44.95). Just a year prior at the 2022 High School State Championships, Thome placed 13th in the 100 freestyle, clocking a 46.20.
Top Times (SCY):
- 50 free- 20.94
- 100 free- 44.79
- 200 free- 1:39.23
- 100 breast- 55.47
- 200 breast- 1:59.70
- 200 IM- 1:47.18
- 400 IM- 3:56.35
The LSU men placed 16th at the NCAA Championships this season, one place behind their 15th place finish from the 2022 Championships. 44 of LSU’s 63 points at this year’s NCAA Championships came from senior swimmer Brooks Curry, who finished 4th in the 50 and 200 freestyles, and 5th in the 100 freestyle.
LSU finished 10th at this year’s SEC Championships. Thome’s best 200 breaststroke time of 1:59.70 would have been 2nd on the team for LSU and 29th at SECs this past season. With only one swimmer currently under the 2:00 mark, the 200 breaststroke is a relatively weak event for the Tigers. With senior Brooks Curry being the only scorer for LSU in the sprint freestyle events at SECs this year, LSU is looking to fill that gap as well. In the IM events for LSU, Thome also would have been 5th on the team in the 200 IM this season, and 4th in the 400 IM.
Thome joins the 2023 recruiting class for LSU along with Simon Casey, Max Eckerman, Jere Hribar, Jovan Lekic, and Mason Williams. Lekic, a Bosnia-Herzegovina record holder and 4x European Junior Championships finalist, is projected to make an immediate impact for the Tigers in the freestyle and butterfly events.
Incoming freshman Jere Hribar should be a significant factor for LSU next season as well. Hribar is a 2x 2022 FINA World Junior Championships finalist, placing 2nd in the 100m freestyle (49.37) and 3rd in the 50m freestyle (22.55). At the 2022 European Junior Championships, Hribar was runner-up in the 50m freestyle, touching in 22.55 seconds.
LSU has recently recruited several swimmers from Houston, Texas, roughly four hours from LSU’s campus. With the addition of Thome, LSU Swimming and Diving will have seven current student-athletes from the Houston metroplex on their roster.
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