FEDERAL WAY, Wash. – One week after the women wrapped up their venture in Federal Way, Washington, it’s the men’s turn to take on the NCAA Championships as seven Auburn swimmers and two divers prepare for a trip to the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatics Center, March 26-29.
Action begins on Wednesday, March 29, with the 200 medley and 800 free relays. The meet will be streamed live all week long on ESPN+ and live results will be available through Meet Mobile.
Head coach Ryan Wochomurka and Co. are coming off an eighth-place finish at last month’s SEC Championships. Whit Andrus (3-meter, platform), Talan Blackmon (1-meter), Mason Mathias (200 free, 500 free, 1650 free), Danny Schmidt (200 free, 200 IM, 200 fly) and Nate Stoffle (100 back, 200 back, 100 fly) will all look to put valuable points on the board the Orange and Blue.
All-Americans Henry Bethel, Ryan Husband, Kalle Makinen and Logan Tirheimer will accompany the squad as relay alternates.
Auburn’s group of qualifiers includes a hefty class of veterans. Mathias, Schmidt and Stoffle account for 16 All-American honors since 2022. Stoffle, an eight-time All-American, is eyeing a return to the podium after an eighth-place finish in the 100 back in 2023. The Lilburn, Georgia product is seeded 16th in the 100 back (45.04) and 13th in the 200 back (1:39.36).
Mathias, the school record holder in the 500 (4:10.82) and 1000 free (8:51.45), finished eighth last year in the 500 in Indianapolis and 10th in the 1650. The 2025 SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year is seeded inside the top 16 in both events entering the championships.
No one had a better SEC meet than Danny Schmidt. The German set the school record in the 200 fly (1:40.43) and jumped to No. 2 performer in the 200 free (1:31.80), 200 IM (1:41.42) and 400 IM (3:40.29). Schmidt arrives in the northwest as a top 16 seed in the 200 free, 200 IM and 200 fly.
Divers Whit Andrus and Talan Blackmon are each making their first appearance at NCAAs. Both have moved up the all-time lists in their respective events throughout the season. Blackmon’s 369.22 on the 1-meter makes the sophomore the 10th-best performer in school history. Meanwhile, Whit Andrus produced a 393.55 in finals of the 3-meter at Zones to qualify for the NCAA Championships, making the senior No. 8 all-time. His 412.40 on platform also makes the North Carolina product No. 7 all-time in the event.
The Tigers finished 12th (100 points) a season ago in Indianapolis. In total, Auburn boasts eight NCAA Team Titles (1997, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009).
The full schedule of events is below:
Wednesday, March 19 (200 MR, 800 FR)
8 p.m. CT – Finals
Thursday, March 20 (500 free, 200 IM, 50 free, 1-meter diving, 200 FR)
Noon CT – Prelims
8 p.m. CT – Finals
Friday, March 21 (400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back, 3-meter diving, 400 MR)
Noon CT – Prelims
8 p.m. CT – Finals
Saturday, March 22 (200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly, 1650 free, Platform Diving, 400 FR)
Noon CT – Prelims
2 p.m. CT – Diving Prelims
5:45 p.m. CT – 1650 heats
8 p.m. CT – Finals