BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A stout week of swimming, including two podium finishes across two dual meet wins over No. 21 Georgia Tech and South Carolina has earned Auburn’s Warner Russ SEC Freshman of the Week honors, the conference announced Tuesday.
Russ, the Jackson, Mississippi native was integral in the Tigers’ pair of victories over the Yellow Jackets and Gamecocks. On Tuesday in Atlanta, dialed up a third-place effort in the 200 free, hitting the wall at 1:37.41.
Four days later in Auburn’s first home dual of the season versus SEC foe South Carolina, Russ picked up the pace to drop a 1:35.98 in 200 free. It was his swim in the 200 IM, however, that made waves, sliding in second with a 1:48.29.
The award is the first such honor for Russ this season. It is the second weekly honor for the Auburn Swimming and Diving program during the 2024-25 campaign thus far. Fellow freshman Ethan Swart won Diver of the Week after sweeping the 1-meter and 3-meter events at North Carolina.
Auburn is back in the pool on Friday, Jan. 17 for another SEC showdown with Kentucky. The action begins at 11 a.m. CT. Head coach Ryan Wochomurka and Co. will return to the Plains on Friday, Jan. 24 for about with Alabama on Senior Day.