AUBURN, Ala. – Head coach Ryan Wochomurka and the Auburn Tigers welcome in-state rival Alabama for a dual on Friday, Jan. 24 inside James E. Martin Aquatics Center.
Swimming events are slated to begin at 3 p.m. CT. The first diving event for both men and women is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Live results will be available through Meet Mobile and the meet will be streamed live on SEC Network Plus.
Under Wochomurka, the Auburn men are a perfect 3-0 versus the Crimson Tide, including a 184.5-115.5 victory in Tuscaloosa a season ago. The women are 1-2, earning their first victory in the Wochomurka era on the road last year, 167-33. Over the previous 10 meetings, the Tigers are 9-1 on the men’s side and 7-3 on the women’s side versus Alabama in dual meets.
In the latest CSCAA Coaches Poll, the Orange and Blue carry a No. 15 ranking on the men’s side and No. 21 on the women’s. The Crimson Tide enter Friday’s matchup as No. 19 on the men’s side and No. 15 on the women’s.
Auburn earned a pair of victories a week ago in Lexington, Kentucky making quick work of the Wildcats. The men won 179-121, while the women took care of business, 163-137. Between the men and women combined, the Tigers won 18 of the 32 events during the dual but it was Kate Murray’s performance that drew the most attention.
Murray, the rookie from Fairfield, Connecticut missed her first career victory by 0.01 seconds in the 50 free (22.80) as teammate Elizaveta Klevanovich claimed the win. Murray would get to the winner’s circle, though, edging out fellow Tiger Polina Nevmovenko in the 100 free with a 49.00. Her 200 free relay squad also tied the Auburn A relay team for first place to end the meet with a swift 1:35.65. The performance earned Murray SEC Freshman of the Week honors for the first time in her career.
Speaking of sprinters, junior Kalle Makinen swept both the 50 free and 100 free at Kentucky. Makinen has yet to lose a 50 free in a dual meet this season.
No one has won more events than Nate Stoffle, though. The senior from Lilburn, Georgia is a perfect 4-4 in both the 100 back and 200 back. Stoffle’s season-bests in the 100 back (45.04) and 200 back (1:39.36) both stand as the ninth fastest times in the country so far.
Equally as impressive, freshman Lora Komoroczy has been just as dominant in the 100 back. The Hungarian has won five time in the event, including taking home the title at the Georgia Tech Fall Invitational. Her 51.58 has already jumped Komoroczy to No. 4 all-time in Auburn history.
Two more freshmen women have etched themselves in the Orange and Blue record book. Julia Strojnowska dialed up a 9:47.98 in the 1000 free earlier this season to fall into No. 9 in program history. Meanwhile, Audrey Crawford delivered a 2:10.85 in the 200 breast to make it to No. 10 in Auburn history.
Friday also marks Senior Day for the Auburn Swimming and Diving program. The recognition is slated for 2:30 p.m. CT. Whit Andrus, Avery Bargeron, Henry Bethel, Grant Davis, Abigail Farrar, Elizaveta Klevanovich, Anastasia, Makarova, Mason Mathias, Lexie Mulvihill, Polina Nevmovenko, Jacques Rathle, Andrew Simmons, Nate Stoffle and Ellie Waldrep will all be celebrated.