DALLAS, TEXAS – Kicking off the 2025-26 season with a bang, Auburn saw a myriad of promising swims and dives at the prestigious SMU Invite across two days of competition inside the Robson and Lindley Aquatics Center. Head coach Ryan Wochomurka’s men locked in a second-place finish on the men’s side (304 points) and a third-place effort on the women’s side (248 points).
Kicking off Friday afternoon, Ivan Tarasov, Uros Zivanovic, Sohib Khaled and Kalle Makinen combined for a 3:07.28 to take second in the 400 medley relay. The women were disqualified in the same event for an early takeoff.
Freshman Taylor Bacher got the women back on track in the 400 IM. Her 4:16.91 was good enough for second place to get the Tigers on the board. Senior Danny Schmidt equaled the effort on the men’s side, hitting the wall at 3:50.68.
Bella Ekk kicked her season off with a solid 1:46.88 in the 200 free for third place overall. On the men’s side, it was Daniel Krichevsky making a splash with a second-place finish at 1:337.74, jumping the rookie to the seventh-fastest performer in program history.
In the sprints, Elizaveta Klevanovich took second with a 22.12. Senior Kalle Makinen slid into third with a 19.75.
Head diving coach John Fox brought NCAA qualifier Emily Hallifax and Ethan Swart with him to Dallas. Hallifax started Friday with a 286.50 in the 3-meter for second place. Swart also secured second in the 1-meter with a 334.20.
In the 100 fly, Morgan Carteaux came home with a 53.83 and third place. It was Sohib Khaled picking up Auburn’s first win, though, barreling in at 46.88 to get the victory.
Keeping the momentum going, Hungary native Lora Komoroczy clocked a 52.34 to earn the victory in the 100 back.
Freshman Ivan Tarasov would hit the wall third in the men’s race at 46.87.
Kiia Metsakonkola made it two in a row for the women in the 100 breast. A 1:01.44 secured the Finland product her first collegiate victory.
Georgia Tech transfer Uros Zivanovic nearly delivered another win for Wochomurka and Co. Zivanovic would settle for second with a 52.84.
Finishing off day one, Ekk, Julia Strojnowska, Maggie McGuire and Bacher combined for a 7:12.20 in the 800 free relay to take second. Schmidt, Krichevsky, Warner Russ and Maston Ballew made it one last highlight for the men, swimming a 6:21.090 for the win.
Day two began with a similar energy for the Orange and Blue. Komoroczy, Metsakonkola, Carteaux and Klevanovich took second in the 200 medley relay with a 1:37.21 to take second. Meanwhile, the Auburn men picked up where they left off with a 1:24.37 from Tarasov, Zivanovic, Khaled and Makinen to earn the early win on Saturday.
Distance specialist Julia Strojnowska found her first podium of the meet with a third-place finish in the 500 free (4:55.58). Krichevsky would lock in second on the men’s side with a 4:21.78.
Freshman Maston Ballew had the Orange and Blue fans in a frenzy after the 200 breast, coming in at 1:55.77 for the victory.
In the 200 back, Maggie McGuire locked in third with a 1:56.48. Tarasov found his second podium of the week in backstroke events, sliding into second at 1:42.59.
Over in the diving well, Hallifax rounded out her weekend with a second-place finish in the 1-meter with a 267.90. Swart grabbed third in the 3-meter at 338.95.
When the swimmers returned to the blocks, Klevanovich secured another podium, finishing third in the 100 free at 48.75. Makinen did the same, delivering a 43.48.
The 200 IM signaled the final individual event of the meet. Maggie McGuire made it one last podium, supplying a 2:03.29 for third place. Schmidt took the silver for the men, coming in at 1:45.79.
Rounding out the meet, Klevanovich, Komoroczy, Metsakonkola and Ekk went 1:29.16 in the 200 free relay to secure second place. The men also finished second as Makinen, Khaled, Krichevsky and Russ went 1:18.39.
FINAL SCORES
Men
Louisville – 313
Auburn – 304
LSU – 240
Drury – 223
SMU – 221
Women
Louisville – 358
LSU – 278
Auburn – 248
Drury – 210
SMU – 207