For the 14th year in a row, the Auburn Men's Swimming & Diving team sits atop the Southeastern Conference.
Auburn head coach Brett Hawke was humble, but proud, after the win.
"We don't chase the number of championships, just focus on winning each year," Hawke said. "Nothing is better than having your team dedicated to committing a task and going out there and accomplishing it."
Auburn's women's team finished third, behind the University of Georgia and the University of Florida.
The Tigers earned 11 automatic qualifiers for the NCAA Championship; nine on the men's side and two on the women's.
Five of the 11 qualifiers are relays.
The men qualified relays in the 200-yard medley, 400yard medley, 200-yard freestyle and 400-yard freestyle.
"Winning four of the five relays is just a highlight," Hawke said. "To see those guys bond in that way is really special."
The 400-yard freestyle relay is made up of sophomore Adam Brown, sophomore Christopher Fox, junior Kohlton Norys and senior Gideon Louw. "We knew we just had to finish to win the title, but we wanted to come out on top," Louw said. "Winning this for the team means everything and we're so proud to extend the Auburn legacy."
Hawke said the Auburn legacy is important to the team.
"This team knows all about Rowdy Gaines and the dynasty that David Marsh built," Hawke said. "They know the great history Auburn has."
Louw and Norys were a part of the NCAA record setting 400 freestyle relay last year.
Senior Pascal Wollach, junior Adam Klein, senior Tyler McGill and Brown made up the NCAA qualifying 400-yard medley relay team.
McGill said the meet was close when the medley relay team raced.
"We were only up seven points goingintotherelay,"McGillsaid."It was huge for us to come out on top in terms of the team standings."
Wollach qualified for NCAAs individually in the 100-yard backstroke.
"It's a great feeling to win two years in a row," Wollach said. "Swimming my time and going faster than I was at SECs last year just proved that I can do it."
The men's diving team took home a few championships too. Head diving coach Jeff Shaffer said he was proud of his divers' efforts throughout the meet.
"We won three SEC titles, set a new SEC record and it's very rewarding to know that their hard work has paid off," Shaffer said.
The NCAA national championships will be held in Columbus, Ohio, March 25-27.
"We think we're in a good spot," Hawke said. "We're very strong in the sprints and when it comes to NCAAs, which is a very important thing." Wollach said he is excited to go back to NCAAs after how the SEC tournament went.
"I know I can go faster in a month at NCAAs and I'm anxious for that," Wollach said.
Auburn will compete next at the Bulldog Invitational in Athens Feb. 26-28.
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