re: LSU Swimming...Is this the worst performing sport for LSU currently?

While it can be helpful there is no necessity that Louisiana be top notch in swim for lsu to be top notch. Kentucky just won the sec with 3 girls from Kentucky on the team who earned little if any points for the team. It takes facilities and coaching. Build it and they will come. And connections of a coach. You have to make in roads with some of the large club teams around the country and get your studs and fill in with depth.
You can build Louisiana club swimming up but if facilities aren’t good they won’t come. These studs will travel and see other facilities for speedo series events and junior nationals and have better venues to compare.