Auburn Heads to Tuscaloosa for Rivalry Showdown with Postseason Momentum Building
AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn Swimming and Diving is heading into its final dual meet of the season with plenty of steam and a familiar foe waiting on the other side. The Tigers travel to Tuscaloosa this Friday, January 30, for a 3 p.m.
CT clash with in-state rival Alabama at the Alabama Aquatic Center and Don Gambril Olympic Pool. The meet will be streamed live on SEC Network Plus, and it’s shaping up to be a high-stakes showdown between two evenly matched squads with postseason aspirations.
Ranked and Ready: Tigers and Tide Set for a Tight Battle
This year’s edition of the Iron Bowl in the pool has all the makings of a classic. Auburn’s men come in ranked No. 15 in the latest CSCAA Coaches Poll, while the women sit at No.
- Alabama counters with a No. 16 ranking on the men’s side and a No. 14 spot for the women, setting up a true toss-up in both meets.
Head coach Ryan Wochomurka has built a balanced and battle-tested roster, and the results speak for themselves. Since taking the reins, Wochomurka has guided the Auburn men to a perfect 4-0 record against the Crimson Tide, while the women’s series stands even at 2-2. Friday offers a chance for the Tigers to close the regular season with a statement win-and to tilt that women’s record back in their favor.
Veteran Leadership Meets Freshman Firepower
Auburn’s depth has been a major storyline all season, and it’s a product of Wochomurka’s ability to blend experience with emerging talent. Seniors Elizaveta Klevanovich and Danny Schmidt have been anchors for the Tigers, each posting top-20 times nationally.
Klevanovich’s 21.66 in the 50 free ranks 13th in the country and places her fourth all-time in Auburn history. Schmidt, already the program record-holder in the 200 fly, has clocked the 18th-fastest 200 IM this season with a time of 1:43.39.
But it’s not just the veterans making waves. Auburn’s freshman class has delivered in a big way.
Daniel Krichevsky (200 free), Ivan Tarasov (100 back), and Abdalla Nasr (200 fly) have each cracked the national top 20 in their respective events. That kind of immediate impact from first-year swimmers is rare-and it’s a big reason why Auburn is trending upward heading into championship season.
Diving In: Landi Leads a Strong Group on the Boards
On the diving side, John Fox’s crew has quietly been one of the most consistent units on the team. Every Auburn diver has hit at least one Zones qualifying score this season, a testament to both depth and preparation.
Freshman Juliette Landi stood out against Florida, taking second on the 1-meter with a 293.10 before claiming her second win of the year on 3-meter with a 320.93. That kind of dual-threat performance could be huge in a meet expected to come down to the details.
Eyes on the Postseason
With 28 NCAA qualifying standards already in the books and 18 swims or dives that rank among the top 10 in program history, Auburn has put together one of its most complete regular seasons in recent memory. But the job isn’t done yet.
After the Alabama meet, the Tigers return home to the James E. Martin Aquatic Center for the First Chance Invitational on February 6-7-a final tune-up before the SEC Championships kick off February 16-21 in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Friday’s meet isn’t just about bragging rights. It’s about sharpening the edge before the postseason grind begins. And if Auburn’s mix of veteran leadership, freshman spark, and diving depth continues to click, the Tigers could be poised to make some serious noise in the weeks ahead.