GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Auburn swimming and diving team came up short in its dual meet at Florida on Saturday. It was only the second time this season the Tigers didn't pick up at least one win from either the men's or women's team in a dual meet.
The Auburn women fell 184-116 to Florida in what was a top-20 matchup, and it was 201-99 in favor of the 4th-ranked Gators on the men's side.
The two Auburn teams still combined for nine victories on the day.
WOMEN
The Auburn women swept the two relays against No. 16 Florida. The Tigers started strong with a win in the 200 medley relay and then finished the meet by taking first in the 400 freestyle relay. Lexie Mulvihill and Emma Steckiel swam on both relays for Auburn.
It was a strong day all around for Mulvihill, the Sunshine State native, who led the Tigers with a second-place finish in both the 50 freestyle and the 100 butterfly.
Sophomore Meghan Lee led off Auburn's winning 200 medley relay and later won the women's 200 backstroke with a B-cut time of 1:56.48. Her 50 back split in the relay, 25.59, was a personal best. Lee also finished third in the 100 backstroke.
The biggest winner Saturday was freshman Anastasia Makarova, a mid-year enrollee, who swept the two breaststroke events in what was just her second college meet. Makarova earned a B-cut time (1:00.41) to win the 100 breast and then touched the wall first in the 200 breast with a time of 2:14.20. Her time in the 100 breast was a new personal best.
MEN
Sophomore Reid Mikuta paced the No. 15 Auburn men's team Saturday. After finishing second in both breaststroke events last week, Mikuta won the 100 and 200 breaststroke against the Gators. His time of 53.39 in the 100 breast was good for a B-cut. He also took third in the men's 200 IM, earning a total of 21 points for the Tigers.
It was a Stoffle sweep in the 100 backstroke as brothers Aidan and Nate Stoffle finished first and second respectively with times of 48.15 and 48.31. It was the second week in a row with a win in the 100 back for Aidan Stoffle. He also won the event at Alabama.
Other highlights for the men came in the 200 backstroke where Lleyton Smith and Andrew Simmons took second and third. In the 200 IM, it was another 2-3 finish for Auburn with Seth Maschmeier in second and Mikuta in third.
DIVING
Senior Conner Pruitt kept his win streak alive with a victory on 1-meter to begin the meet. Pruitt, who has now won at least one event in four straight dual meets, took first with a score of 372.83. It was just the second time this season he's gone over 370 on 1-meter. Pruitt finished second in the 3-meter competition with another NCAA Zone qualifying score (397.58).
Sophomore Hunter Kebler set a new career best (311.85) to place third on 1-meter while freshman Whit Andrus finished fourth on both 1-meter and 3-meter.
The top finisher for the Auburn women was Ashlynn Sullivan who secured fourth on 3-meter with 300.38 points, earning another Zone qualifying score.
UP NEXT
Saturday marked the final dual meet of the season for Auburn. The Tigers will host the annual Auburn Invitational on Feb. 4-5 and then the postseason officially begins with the SEC Championships in Knoxville, Tennessee on Feb. 15-19.
Auburn S&D falls in final dual meet at Florida
