NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Head coach Ryan Wochomurka's second season at the helm of the Auburn Swim and Dive program could not have started in a better fashion.
Dominant wire to wire, the Tiger Women toppled Vanderbilt 185-56.
Wochomurka's crew made an immediate statement in the 200 medley relay. While Daisy Platts, Anastasia Makarova, Lexie Mulvihill and Claudia Thamm put together the winning effort of 1:39.94, Auburn relays grabbed first through fourth in the opening event.
It was the distance swimmers to have their crack at the podium next. Emily Hetzer snagged the win in the 1,000 free with a 10:02.73 and newcomer Lilly Byrne hit the wall third with a 10:21:00.
Hetzer would return to the blocks and the winner's circle in the 500 free. Her 4:55.98 earned the victory as Bryne scored with a third-place finish and a sub-5-minute race.
Platts was back in action in the 100 back, highlighting yet another sweep for the Orange and Blue. Her 53.65 paced the meet with Kyla Maloney (54.14) and Ellie Waldrep (54.25) touching in second and third, respectively. The Lutterworth College product made it a trio of victories after the 200 back, claiming the race by nearly two seconds with a 1:57.11.
Like Platts, Anastasia Makarova wasn't done collecting wins on Friday afternoon in the Centennial Sportsplex. Her 1:01.44 was good enough to secure the victory in the 100 breast. Brynn Curtis and freshman Ainsley Jones weren't too far behind for second and third in the event.
Jones, the youngster from Dunwoody, Georgia flashed her potential later in the meet in the 200 breast. Touching in at 2:14.58, she picked up her first win as a Tiger. Curtis and Makarova also rounded out another sweep behind Jones.
Casey Cullen and Meghan Lee made a case for race of the day in the 200 fly. Cullen narrowly beat out her teammate at 2:00.14, a mere .02 seconds ahead of Lee.
However, it was captain Claudia Thamm and Mulvihill earned the award for the most exciting finish of the afternoon in the 50 free. At 23.13 the two slammed into the wall simultaneously to split the victory.
Following the break, Rebekah Hamilton gave Auburn even more to cheer about in the 100 free. Her 51.50 beat out Emma Steckiel and Payton Marvin, solidifying the Tiger's momentum in its first dual of the year.
Four different Auburn swimmers cracked the 56-second mark in the 100 fly. Bargeron led the charge with Mulvihill, Gibbons and Carly Sebring collecting points behind the sophomore.
Though the remaining events will technically go down as exhibitions, Meghan Lee and Hannah Ownbey dialed up solid swims in the 200 IM. Meanwhile, Mulvihill, Marvin, Steckiel and Hamilton put in another strong effort in the 400 free relay.
When all the dust settled, it was a dominant season-opening win for the Tigers, taking down the commodores 185-56.
DECK TALK
Head coach, Ryan Wochomurka
"We saw a lot of great things today. It is good to get the season started and be racing again. It's obvious we have a lot of cleanup to do underwater and around the walls. Overall, to see some things today coupled with what we have done this fall in the weight room and in the pool is encouraging.
"Very appreciative of the fans, parents and alumni that traveled to Nashville to cheer us on!"
