AUBURN, Ala. – Prepped and ready for the most meaningful meet of the fall, head coach Ryan Wochomurka and the Auburn Tigers head to Atlanta and historic McCauley Aquatic Center in Atlanta for the Georgia Tech Invitational, Nov. 22-24.
Prelims are slated for 9 a.m. CT each morning with finals scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Live results will be available on the Meet Mobile app and the meet will be streamed live on the ACC Network Plus.
The last time fans of the Orange and Blue saw the Tigers in action, the squad was in Chapel Hill, NC battling it out in their dual meet against North Carolina. Auburn’s women emerged with a 154-146 win while the men fell just short of a victory.
Entering the weekend, Wochomurka’s men have earned the No. 15 ranking in the country in the latest CSCAA Coaches Poll while the women have moved up to No. 18.
Senior Nate Stoffle has kept the Tigers’ backstroke unit alive. His 45.76 in the 100 ranks 11th in the country entering the weekend and his 1:41.94 is 17th in the nation in the 200.
Sprinter Kalle Makinen has also impressed early in 2024. The Finland native boasts a 19.34 in the 50 free, good enough for 12th in the country. Meanwhile, fellow international Danny Schmidt owns the 21st-best time in the nation in the 200 IM at 1:45.75.
As a staple under Wochomurka, the Auburn relays have remained strong on the men’s side. Four of the five Orange and Blue relays are inside the top 10 in the country, including a 1:17.98 in the 200 free relay (No. 8 in the nation).
Auburn’s freshmen have shone particularly bright on the women’s side. Rookie Lora Komoroczy and Audrey Crawford both enter the weekend with top 20 swims in the country. Lora’s 51.83 in the 100 back ranks 14th and her 52.50 in the 100 fly sits 20th. Crawford managed a stellar 2:10.85 in the 200 breast, solidifying 20th overall.
Veterans Lexie Mulvihill, Ellie Waldrep and Anastasia Makarova have also proven why they have earned All-American honors while on the Plains. Mulvihill’s 22.28 is the 19th-fasted 50 free time in the country, Waldrep owns the 20th spot in the 100 back at 52.26 and Makarova moved up to No. 13 in the 100 breast touching in at 59.81.
Like the men, Auburn’s women have been equally as strong in the relays. All five rank inside the top 15 in the nation. The Tigers’ 400 free relay (3:14.61) is seventh entering the weekend as is the 200 medley relay (1:36.01).
John Fox’s group has also been strong in the diving well. Freshman Ethan Swart won SEC Diver of the Week for his performance in Chapel Hill last month, the first such honor of his career. Between Swart and Kyleigh Kidd, Auburn nearly swept the diving events against the Tar Heels.