To start the 2025-26 swim and dive season with a bang, Auburn had various great swims and dives at the SMU Invite in two days of competition inside the Robson and Lindley Aquatics Center. The Men scored 304 points, securing second place, while the women scored 248 points, grabbing second.
Auburn opened the season with strong all-around performances at the SMU Invite. There were multiple event wins and great performances that demonstrated a balanced start to the season.
For the men, Sahib Khaled and Maston Ballew both won their respective events. Khaled finished first in the 100 fly, delivering a 46.88. Ballew won the 200 breaststroke, scoring 1:55.77.
Lora Komoroczy delivered a 52.34 to secure the win in the 100 back for the women. Kiia Metskonkola won the 100 breast with a 1:01.44.
These wins helped Auburn secure second and third, but the transfers and veterans helped pave the way early on.
Uros Zivanovic, a Georgia Tech transfer, Ivan Tarasov, Kalle Makinen, and Khaled combined for a 3:07.28 to take second in the 400 medley relay. This got Auburn going early in Dallas, and it would ride this momentum the rest of the way.
In diving, Emily Hallifax started Friday with a 286.50 in the 3-meter for second place, and Ethan Swart also got second, but in the 1-meter with a 334.20. Hallifax would finish the weekend with a second-place finish in the 1-meter with a 267.90, securing a podium finish on the last day. Swart would also reach the podium, grabbing third in the 3-meter at 338.95.
Day two started out in a similar fashion as day one, with the men earning an early win in the 200 medley relay with a 1:24.37 from Tarasov, Zivanovic, Khaled, and Makinen. Komoroczy, Metsakonkola, Morgan Carteaux, and Elizaveta Klevanovich took second with a 1:37.21.
The Tigers kept the same energy throughout the event, and the consistency paid off, securing respectable finishes with a great balance in both swimming and diving.
This momentum carried onto the final day, where the women went 1:29.16 in the 200 free relay to earn second place. The men also finished second with a 1:18.39 in the event.
The Tigers had great finishes at the prestigious SMU Invite for both the men and women in a collective effort that they can ride going into the Dual Meet Tournament.
Auburn will head to Atlanta, Georgia, to face Minnesota in the Dual Meet Tournament. The tournament will begin on Friday, October 17, at 7:30 a.m. CDT. The event will last two days, finishing Saturday.
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Tyler Cox is a sophomore from Atlanta majoring in journalism. He joined The Plainsman in fall 2023.
