This weekend, the Auburn University Swim Team traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee, for the SEC Swimming and Diving Championships. They came in with big hopes and delivered.
The men’s team finished sixth overall which is the best placement for them in four years. The women’s team finished seventh overall which is a two-place improvement from last year.
Auburn was able to add to their NCAA team. The woman's 200 medley relay, consisting of swimmers Meghan Lee, Anastaisa Makarova, Claudia Thamm, and Rebekah Hamilton, finished at 1:35.96, which placed them fourth overall and second fastest in Auburn history.
The men’s team added two more relays, and a second free relay to their NCAA roaster, the 800 relay. This team, Christian Sztolcman, Ryan Husband, Jacques Rathle, Michael Bonson, finished in 6:15.96 landing fifth overall. They also moved into fourth in Auburn history with this time.
The other relay the team added was the 400 medley relay. The team, Nate Stoffle, Reid Miktua, Aidan Stoffle, and Logan Tirhemier, finished in 3:05.35, landing fifth overall.
Auburn placed third overall in the men’s 200 free relay. The 200 medley would have also made the podium if they had not disqualified during finals.
Only one Auburn swimmer placed individually at championships. Reid Mikuta placed third overall in 100 breaststroke and second overall in the 200 breaststroke. His time (1:52.09) in the 200 race broke the school record.
The teams had a substantial amount of Personal Records (P.R.) achieved. Current swimmers have worked their way into the Top 10 All-Time Records of the university.
Listed below are all the swimmers that cracked their way into the all-time standings, or improved their place, along with all the P.R. swims.
Women's Team P.R. & All-Time Placements:
Avery Bargeron- Seventh overall in 200 Fly (1:55.71)
Megan Lee- Eighth Overall in 200 IM (1:57.20), Seventh overall in 100 Back (52.18)
Anastasia Makarova- Second Overall in 100 Breast (59.39)
Hannah Ownbey- Fourth overall in 200 Breast (2:09.16)
Emma Steckiel- P.R. in 50 Free (22.40)
Men’s Team P.R. & All-Team Placements:
Henry Bethel- Eighth overall in 200 Breast (1:55.19), P.R. in 200 IM (1:45.52)
Micheal Bonson- Second overall in 500 Free (4:13.89), Fifth Overall in 200 Free (1:33.97), Second overall in 1650 Free (14:44.63)
Ryan Husband- P.R. in 200 Free (1:34.45), P.R. in 100 Free (43.57)
Mason Mathias- Ninth overall in 500 Free (4:17.98), Tenth overall in 1650 Free (15:08.97), P.R. in 200 Fly (1:45.41), P.R. in 1650 free (15:08.97)
Evan McInerny- P.R. in 400 IM (3:49.57), P.R. in 200 Fly (1:45.23)
Reid Mikuta- Third overall at SEC Championships in 100 Breast (51.41), First overall in Auburn history & second overall at SEC Championship & P.R. in 200 Breast (1:52.09), P.R. in 200 IM (1:44.55)
Jacques Rathle- Seventh overall in 400 IM (3:45.92), P.R. in 200 IM (1:44.96), P.R. in 200 Breast (1:57.02)
Lleyton Smith- Seventh overall in 200 Back (1:40.29), Tenth overall in 100 Back (46.00)
Aidan Stoffle- Ninth overall in 100 Back (45.94), Ninth overall in 100 Back (45.76), P.R. in 100 Fly (46.29), P.R. in 100 Free (43.07)
Nate Stoffle- Tied Sixth overall in 100 Back (45.60), P.R. in 200 Back (1:40.92)
Logan Tirheimer- P.R. in 100 Fly (47.03), P.R. in 100 Free (42.79)
Matthew Yish- P.R. in 100 Fly (46.62)
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Lily has been with The Plainsman for three years and started out as a Sports Writer before becoming the Operations Editor. She graduates in May of 2024 and is from Washington, D.C.
