Nine Auburn swimming and diving athletes earned recognition from the SEC for their performance at the conference championships in February, it was announced on Wednesday. Erin Falconer, Claire Fisch, Julie Meynen and Aly Tetzloff were named All-SEC First Team, Robyn Clevenger, Carly Cummings and Liam McCloskey were named All-SEC Second Team and Emily Hetzer and Conner Pruitt were named to the SEC All-Freshman Team. In addition, Foster Ballard and Bailey Nero was placed on the SEC Community Service Teams.
Falconer, Fisch, Meynen and Tetzloff won the 400 free relay in a school record 3:10.45 for to earn the four First Team honors. In addition, Falconer won the 200 free in 1:43.04, making her the second-fastest performer in school history, and Tetzloff won the 100 back in a school record 50.92.
Fisch, Meynen and Tetzloff also teamed up with Clevenger to finish second in the 200 free relay in a school record 1:27.05 while it was Falconer, Tetzloff and Fisch teaming up with Cummings to finish second in the 400 medley relay in a school record 3:29.06 as Auburn posted school records in four relays at the conference championships.
McCloskey earned his second team honor with his runner-up finish in the 100 fly in 45.11, making him the fourth-fastest performer in school history.
Hetzer earned her All-Freshman team honors by virtue of her fourth-place finish in the 1650 free (16:01.02) while Pruitt earned his accolades with a seventh-place finish on the platform.
Ballard has been very involved in the Auburn University and the city of Auburn communities since arriving as a freshman. On campus, he joined the Auburn Leadership Institute CONNECT in 2016 and became the Director in 2017. An active member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, he was a representative in 2016-17, attended the SEC Student-Athlete Leadership Conference in the summer of 2017 and has been a member of the SEC Disaster Relief Committee since 2017.
A team captain since 2017, Ballard has been a volunteer with the Lee County Habitat for Humanity, a Rocket Reader volunteer tutor at Dean Road Elementary, participated in the City of Auburn Downtown Trick or Treat, took part in Auburn's Tigers Give Back Community Service Day and the Special Olympics Unified Flag Football Game. He has also participated in the Auburn SAAC community service trips to the Birmingham Zoo and the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Birmingham. Expecting to graduate in Fall 2019, he was a 2016 USA Olympic Trials qualifier ad was part of Auburn's SEC and NCAA teams in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Nero has also been very involved in the university and local community since her freshman year. Throughout her four years at Auburn, she has volunteered at the East Alabama Food Bank, Oak Park Retirement Home and the Lee County Humane Society. She also spent time in Chewacla State Park as part of the 2018 Tigers Give Back Community Service Day.
A senior leader, Nero has also tutored at local elementary schools. Working towards her BS in biochemistry, she has consistently been on the Dean's List, a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, a member of Pi Sigma Pi Honor Society, a Top Tiger, a representative on SAAC and a member of the Pre-Pharmacy Club.
For the All-SEC Teams, the First Team consists of the top finisher in each event at the SEC Championships and the Second Team consists of the second- and third-place finishers in each event. The All-Freshman Teams consist of any redshirt or true freshman who finished either in the top eight or is the highest scoring freshman of each event at the SEC Championships, excluding relay events.
The SEC sponsors Community Service Teams for all 21 league sponsored sports. The Community Service Team looks to highlight an athlete from each school who gives back to their community in superior service efforts.
-- War Eagle –