Auburn Divers Make Early Splash in SEC Championships, Land Trio in Consolation Finals
AUBURN, Ala. - The SEC Championships are officially underway, and Auburn’s men’s diving team wasted no time making their presence felt on Day 1. Competing in the 1-meter springboard event at the Allan Jones Aquatic Center, the Tigers put three divers into the consolation finals and locked in a solid fourth-place standing after the opening event with 41 team points.
Sophomore Ethan Swart led the charge early with a confident 326.50 in prelims, comfortably punching his ticket to the consolation round. Not far behind, Ben Wilson and Talan Blackmon followed suit with scores of 314.70 and 313.50, respectively, giving Auburn a trio of representatives in the evening session.
When the finals rolled around, it was Wilson who stepped up with the top performance for the Tigers. His 322.45 earned him a 12th-place finish overall, showing poise and execution when it mattered. Swart remained consistent, landing in 13th with a 318.30, while Blackmon rounded out the group in 15th after scoring 300.65.
Freshman Tsvetomir Ereminov also made his SEC Championships debut, finishing 30th overall with a 238.45. While he didn’t advance to the finals, it’s a valuable first step in what could be a promising collegiate career.
After one event, Tennessee jumped out to an early lead with 98 points, while Florida and Texas sit tied for second at 53. Auburn’s 41 points put them in a strong position heading into the rest of the week’s action.
Here’s how the team standings look after Day 1:
Men’s Team Scores After 1 Event
1.
Tennessee - 98
T2.
Florida - 53
T2.
Texas - 53
4.
Auburn - 41
5.
Missouri - 29
6.
LSU - 24
7.
Georgia - 22
8.
Texas A&M - 20
9.
Alabama - 15
10.
Kentucky - 6
11.
South Carolina - 1
The Tigers will look to carry that momentum into Tuesday, which brings a full slate of events. The women’s 1-meter diving competition takes center stage in the morning alongside the grueling 1650 freestyle. Later in the day, the action heats up with finals in the 200 medley relay and 800 freestyle relay.
SEC Championships Schedule - Key Events Ahead
Tuesday, Feb. 17
- 10:30 a.m. CT - 1650 Freestyle (all heats), Women’s 1-meter Prelims & Consolations
- 4:00 p.m. CT - Finals: 200 Medley Relay, Women’s 1-meter, 800 Freestyle Relay
Wednesday, Feb. 18
- 8:30 a.m. CT - Prelims: 100 Back, 200 Fly, 100 Breast
- 11:00 a.m. CT - Men’s 3-meter Prelims & Consolations
- 4:30 p.m. CT - Finals: 100 Back, 200 Fly, 100 Breast, Men’s 3-meter
Thursday, Feb. 19
- 8:30 a.m. CT - Prelims: 100 Fly, 400 IM, 200 Free
- 11:00 a.m. CT - Women’s 3-meter Prelims & Consolations
- 4:30 p.m. CT - Finals: 100 Fly, 400 IM, 200 Free, Women’s 3-meter, 400 Medley Relay
Friday, Feb. 20
- 8:30 a.m. CT - Prelims: 200 Breast, 50 Free, 500 Free
- 11:00 a.m. CT - Men’s Platform Prelims & Consolations
- 4:30 p.m. CT - Finals: 200 Breast, 50 Free, 500 Free, Men’s Platform, 200 Free Relay
Saturday, Feb. 21
- 8:30 a.m. CT - Prelims: 200 IM, 100 Free, 200 Back
- 11:00 a.m. CT - Women’s Platform Prelims & Consolations
- 4:30 p.m. CT - Finals: 200 IM, 100 Free, 200 Back, Women’s Platform, 400 Free Relay
Auburn’s early performance on the boards sets a competitive tone for the week ahead. With a deep schedule of swimming and diving still to come, there’s plenty of opportunity for the Tigers to climb the leaderboard and make a statement in Knoxville.