Last Saturday, Feb. 23, senior swimmer Kyle Owens walked out of Texas A&M's Rec Center Natatorium with four gold medals after the successful 2013 SEC Swimming and Diving Championship.
Owens defended his 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke titles, but also came away with a 400-yard medley relay gold and a 400-yard freestyle relay gold.
"I was so pumped," Owens said. "When I finished and saw that No. 1 next to my name it was really cool. Being a senior and being able [to defend titles] for a great team has been really fun. It's always fun to win for a second time, but really to do it for all the guys on the team is more important for me."
On that same note, Owens pointed out that while winning individual titles is great, winning with the team is much better.
"The relay is always so much more fun," Owens said. "You have three other guys to celebrate it with, and you really get so pumped up for the relays. Auburn is historic for their relay wins too, and it's good to be a part of that."
Owens had a breakout year last season and was Auburn's top scorer in the SEC and NCAA Championships. This season he was also the top scorer for the Tigers at the SEC Championship, and was the runner-up by half a point to the Commissioner's Trophy, which is awarded to the high-point scorer of the meet.
"Kyle's performance was outstanding," said coach Brett Hawke. "He was basically the highest point scorer at the meet. He had all best times and really helped us, especially on the relays, become No. 1 in the country in a lot of those relays."
Hawke has coached Owens through his college career, and had nothing but praise for the senior.
"He's improved a tremendous amount," Hawke said. "He came in as a regular kid and has now become one of the best athletes in the world. His learning curve has moved a lot.
He's a vocal leader outside the pool and tries to encourage other people to be at their best as well."
Owens has noticed a change in the level of his performance as well.
"I think I've improved quite a bit," Owens said. "Not resting for the SEC Championships and still hitting best times in my entire 12 year career says a lot about to program and about the training we've done this year."
Though Owens has had a career season, and there is more to come at the NCAA Championships, it will be his final year as a competitive swimmer.
A Biomedical Science major, Owens will enter medical school in the summer.
"In July I'm going to start out at medical school," Owens said. "I'm not going to be swimming anymore, so it's going to be hard to balance that. I hope I can just go on to be a good physician, but I don't think any more swimming is in my future."
If Owens's work ethic in the pool is in any way similar to his outside of the water, there is no doubt that he will succeed in his career choice.
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