AUBURN, Ala. – Fresh off a strong showing against Georgia on Saturday, the Auburn Women's Swim and Dive team will take on Arkansas on Tuesday, Jan. 9 inside James E. Martin Aquatic Center.
The meet will kick off with 1-meter diving at 11:15 a.m. CT. Swimming is slated to begin at noon CT. Fans unable to make it to the Plains on Tuesday will be able to watch live on SEC Network Plus.
Head coach Ryan Wochomurka's crew has been closing the gap on its SEC opponents since day one of the 2023-24 season. Entering the matchup at No. 14 in the latest CSCAA Coaches Poll, the Tigers have already accomplished feats unseen in the Wochomurka era.
Auburn women have already captured two NCAA A cuts before the SEC Championships in February, something the team did not do a season ago. Individually, Tiger swimmers have combined for 48 NCAA B cuts as the team looks to jump up the standings at the end of March.
Saturday against the Bulldogs, the Orange and Blue dialed up a number of notable swims throughout the afternoon. No one had a better day than senior Meghan Lee. Including a lead-off victory in the 200 medley relay, Lee went a perfect 4-4 with wins in the 200 fly, 100 fly and 200 back.
Speaking of relays, Auburn women have kicked it into a new gear this season. Saturday was no different. Lee, Anastasia Makarova, Abby Gibbons and Lexie Mulvihill outswam everyone in the 200 medley and Lawson Ficken, Polina Nevmovenko, Mulvihill and Emma Steckiel pieced together one the best 400 free relays of the last couple of years.
Ficken features amongst a talented class of freshmen for Auburn. Morgan Carteaux, Jade Castro, Olivia Dinehart, Wyllo Hanson, Maggie McGuire Carissa Rinard and Zoey Zellar all sport NCAA B cuts in their rookie campaigns.
Along with Lee, Ellie Waldrep and Kensley Merritt have kept Auburn's prestigious backstroke unit well above the pack.
In the diving well, sophomore Kyleigh Kidd is on a meteoric rise that started in December at the AU Diving Invite. Kidd secured victories on both springboard events on Saturday and will be looking to keep the momentum going on Tuesday.
UP NEXT
Both teams will be back in action for the final dual meet of the season at Alabama on Jan. 19 at 4 p.m. CT in Tuscaloosa.
No. 14 Auburn Women host Arkansas in latest SEC bout
