The Phillips 66 National Championships wrapped up last week in California, and it was a strong showing by the Auburn contingent that competed. There were new personal bests, top-10 finishes and a number of swimmers who qualified for Olympic Trials.
Following the event, the Auburn program now has 17 student-athletes representing War Eagle Swimming (Auburn's club team) at next summer's Olympic Trials.
Here's a look back at this year's National Championships.
Day 1
In the 100m freestyle on the women's side, post graduate Aly Tetzloff won the B Final (9th place) with a time of 54.61. Claire Fisch, a rising senior, swam a 55.55 in a swim off for the first alternate spot (25th place), which was a new Olympic Trials cut and personal best.
Others that qualified for the Olympic Trials included sophomore-to-be Emily Hetzer, who placed in the top 15 in the 800m freestyle with a personal best time of 8:37.86, and rising senior Abi Wilder, who swam a personal best 1:02.12 in the 100m backstroke. Post graduate Bailey Nero also qualified with a 2:14.14 in the 200m butterfly.
On the men's side, rising sophomore Aryan Makhija placed 17th in the 1500m freestyle with a personal best of 15:34.71. Fellow sophomore Christian Sztolcman time trialed in the 100m free and swam a new personal best of 50.42 to qualify for Olympic Trials.
Day 2
Wilder and Sztolcman, both competing in their first nationals, once again posted personal bests on the second day. Wilder placed 7th overall in the 200m backstroke with a time of 2:11.76, and Sztolcman swam a 1:49.65 in the prelims and placed 23rd overall in the 200m freestyle.
Rising junior Spencer Rowe also posted a new Olympic Trials qualifying time in the prelims of the men's 200m breaststroke with a time of 2:17.57.
Day 3
Tetzloff became the first Auburn swimmer to podium at the event, earning a third-place finish and a bronze medal in the women's 100m butterfly. Her time (57.70) currently ranks her fifth nationally and was also a new Auburn school record.
In the same event, Nero and rising junior Jewels Harris both finished under the Olympic Trial qualifying standard during the prelims. Nero swam a 1:00.00 while Harris posted a 1:00.51.
On the men's side, senior-to-be David Crossland time trialed the 100m butterfly with a new personal best of 54.06 that qualified him for the Olympic Trials.
Day 4
Hetzer and Crossland returned on Day 4 and swam well under the Olympic Trials cuts in their respective events. Hetzer qualified for the B final in the women's 400m freestyle with a time of 4:12.73, a new personal best. She placed 14th overall. And Crossland swam a new personal best of 55.60 in the men's 100m backstroke.
Day 5
Tetzloff, who finished third in the 100m butterfly, just missed the podium in the 50m freestyle with a new Olympic Trials cut and personal best time of 24.97.
Also on the women's side, Hetzer placed 7th overall in the 1500m freestyle with a time of 16:28.37 that shattered the Olympic Trials qualifying standard, and Nero placed 21st in the 200m individual medley (IM). She swam a personal best 2:16.27 in the prelims.
Makhija finished strong for the men, placing 21st overall in the 800m freestyle with a new personal best time of 8:07.80.
Qualified for the Olympic Trials
Current team members (M): David Crossland (100m back, 200m back, 100m fly), Christian Ginieczki (100m back), Thomas Heinzel (50m free), Christian Sztolcman (100m free, 200m free), Spencer Rowe (200m breast)
Current team members (W): Emily Hetzer (400m free, 800m free, 1500m free), Claire Fisch (50m free, 100m free), Abi Wilder (100m back, 200m back), Carly Cummings (100m breast, 200m breast, 200m IM), Jewels Harris (100m butterfly)
Incoming freshmen: Lleyton Smith (100m back, 200m back), Jack Armstrong (50m free, 100m free), Ty Babinec (100m breast), Ayeree Preblem (1500m free)
Post graduates: Aly Tetzloff (50m free, 100m free, 100m back, 100m fly), Bailey Nero (100m fly, 200m fly, 200m IM), Bowe Becker (50m free, 100m free)