ATHENS, Ga. - Averee Preble hadn't dropped a personal best in the mile, swimming's most grueling race, in over three years.
Last March, Preble conjured a 16:02.99 at the NCAA Championships in Knoxville, Tennessee to earn All-American Honorable Mention in what she thought was going to be her last time in an Auburn swim cap.
"That's far and away my best event," Preble explained. "It was really uplifting and a special moment for me, personally, to finally see improvement in something that you've been training for a long time."
Preble's contribution was integral in Auburn's journey back amongst the who's who of collegiate swimming. After a three-year point-scoring drought, Preble and the Tigers were back on the board, finishing with 14 total team points, its highest since 2019.
"Honestly, I think our biggest focus was to score at NCAAs again," said Preble. "Not to say SECs were overshadowed but it was definitely one of our biggest goals."
With the mission accomplished, Preble returned to her home state of California to begin a life outside of college. The Clovis, California native spent the summer coaching her former club team. Whether it was the sunny California weather or the proximity to the pool, something in Preble was calling her back to the water.
"I truly missed it," Preble said. "And I started exploring what it might look like if I wanted to swim again and what my options were. Ryan [Wochomurka] was great about it. Even when we had conversations during my senior year, he made it clear that he only wanted me to stay if it was my choice."
Progress was a must for the women's team in 2023-24. In fact, it was their mission statement.
"Our women's team will get top four at SECs, which will put us on the right path to achieve our goals at NCAAs," Preble recited. "We will make this count by winning the day and having a spirit that is unafraid."
Making it count. That's the phrase and the mantra that Preble says she and the rest of her teammates lived by this season.
Hosting the 2024 SEC Championships, Preble and the Tigers accomplished exactly what she and the team set out to do. Auburn finished fourth with 879.5 points. It was the highest finish since 2016 and the most points scored since 2006.
"I think we all have the same objective," says Preble. "I think everybody that's here loves Auburn and wants to compete for Auburn. And we all collectively see that.
"I think the coaches definitely foster that unity and I think the leadership over the past few years has worked well with coaches in building that. Now we have a team. We have girls that we've recruited that genuinely love this program and want to see it at the top again."
Last season was progress with new records and several dual meet wins. The team is hungry for more, though. Something larger is on the menu.
"We lost big at one point and then we lost small," Preble said. "Last year, we won small for the first time and now I feel like we're on our way to winning really big."
For Preble, personally, she'd like to see her name on a record board or standing on a podium this week. But this season has been about more than just herself. Being a team leader and leaving Auburn better than when she found it are among her top priorities.
"Whatever happens this week, I feel like this is where I was supposed to be this year."