The Auburn Tigers will make their way to Knoxville, Tenn., to compete in the SEC Swimming and Diving Championship Feb. 15-17.
Until then, everyone is staying loose.
"We'll definitely get a little bit of rest, let our muscles recover," said senior swimmer Stuart Ferguson. "We're able to get a little bit of 'pop' is what we call it, just kind of that explosive power."
Swimming and diving coach Brett Hawke isn't worried.
"All the hard work is done," Hawke said. "I think you panic a little bit when you feel like you're playing catch up, but we've put a lot of work in early so we feel really good about it."
Even so, Hawke emphasizes focus for both his men's and women's teams.
"It's important that we are on our toes and know what we have to do," Hawke said. "Other teams are sick of losing."
The men's team has brought home an SEC title for the past 15 years.
"It's the quality of athletes and their mindset," Hawke said. "The kids that come here want to win. They want to be champions. The first couple of championships set that up, and now it's just a tradition of excellence that's been carried on."
Ferguson believes his team's camaraderie is what makes them tough to beat.
"There are moments when you have to quietly focus yourself, but I think what we do a really good job of is investing in each other and swimming in a pack," Ferguson said. "'Attack in a pack' is our motto."
Despite the team's success in past years, Ferguson said his team never assumes it will win at SECs.
"It's a fight every year. The best way to win one championship is to just focus on that one," Ferguson said. "There's no need to think about trying to protect the streak because that's out of our control.
Ferguson said Florida is another top competitor standing in the way of a 16th consecutive conference title.
"Florida is a really good team and they're definitely going to come ready to try and beat us, but I think we still got 'em," Ferguson said. "We are just going to think about doing the best we can do every time we step up to the blocks, and the rest will take care of itself."
Senior swimmer Kelsey Winters uses the same logic.
"I don't get too ahead of myself," Winters said. "When it's time to warm up, I warm up and think about what I want to do for myself for the race. Then in the race, I focus on just staying calm, swimming in my own lane, sticking to what I've been practicing and making sure I take it step by step."
The women's team has won five SEC championships in the past eight years.
"They are in a good position to move up from last year," Hawke said. "Last year they were third, and I think they could challenge Florida.
"I think Georgia is still the team to beat, and they're probably the team that's going to run away with it if they swim to their full potential, but at the same time our girls are really focusing on being the best they can be, and I think that's dangerous when you go into a championship."
Winters said she is ready for SEC play.
"It's my last year so I'd love to finish on a high note, whatever that entails," Winters said. "You don't want to jinx it, but we all have (winning) in the back of our minds and that's what we're striving for."
*Content has been changed from original publication.
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