ATLANTA – The Auburn men scored points for the second straight day at the NCAA Championships on Thursday thanks to senior diver Conner Pruitt.
Pruitt, competing at NCAAs for the first time since 2019, advanced to the consolation final in the 1-meter event after finishing ninth in prelims with a score of 356.90. Pruitt scored 321.70 on his second list to place seventh in the consolation final and 15th overall. With a top 16, he earned Honorable Mention All-American honors.
"Great first list, 1.6 points out of top eight," Auburn head diving coach Jeff Shaffer said. "He competed really strong in a really tough field, scored valuable team points to help us, and that's the first time he's made a final at NCAAs. So, I was proud of his effort today and proud of him contributing to the team."
It was the first NCAA final for Pruitt and the first men's diver at Auburn to reach an NCAA final since Scott Lazeroff advanced to the platform final at the 2018 NCAA Championships.
The Tigers had just two swimmers race in prelims with Michael Bonson finishing 34th in the 500 freestyle and Jacques Rathle taking 40th in the 200 IM. It was a new personal best for Rathle who touched the wall in 1:44.56, second-fastest in his heat.
Auburn closed out the night session with the 200 freestyle relay where the Tigers were 22nd overall with a time of 1:17.25. The relay included Nate Stoffle, Logan Tirheimer, Matthew Yish and Aidan Stoffle. Tirheimer swam the fastest split at 18.95 on the second leg.
All seven individual qualifiers are expected to be in action Friday with the 400 IM, 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke and 3-meter diving competition all on tap. Prelims begin at 9 a.m. and will be followed by diving.
Finals are scheduled for 5 p.m. CT and will feature Auburn's 400 medley relay.
Pruitt makes first NCAA final, earns All-America HM honors
