Florida State Men Get First Ever Win over Auburn as Schools Split Dual

Max McCusker
Max McCusker; Photo Courtesy: Christa Salerno / Florida State Athletics

Florida State and Auburn split a dual meet at the James E. Martin Aquatic Center Wednesday, with the Seminoles men beating Auburn for the first time in 19 all-time meetings. It’s also FSU’s first win over a ranked opponent since 2017.

Team Scores

  • Men: No. 16 Florida State 180, No. 22 Auburn 120
  • Women: No. 19 Auburn 186, No. 22 Florida State 116

Florida State won 13 of 16 events, weathering two early wins by Auburn in the distance events. The victorious 200 medley relay that started the meet accounted for six individual wins in addition to the relay triumph. Mason Herbet, Izaak Bastian, Max McCusker and Jakub Ksiazek got the win in 1:28.08.

Herbet won the 100 backstroke and was second to teammate Nick Vance (also winner of the 200 butterfly and 400 individual medley) in the 200 back. Bastian swept the 100 and 200 breaststroke. McCusker won the 100 fly and 100 freestyle, and Ksiazek claimed the 50 free.

Santi Corredor stemmed the tide of Auburn’s distance contingent with a win in the 500 free, and Joshua Davidson swept the diving events.

“It was of course amazing to get the men’s first win over Auburn,” Florida State head coach Neal Studd said. “We had so many of our top guys out, so this win was even more special because it was a real team effort.”

Auburn picked up early points, with Michael Bonson and Samuel Oliver going 1-2 in the 1,000 free, and Mikkel Gadgaard followed up with a win in the 200 free. But Auburn would have to wait until the closing 400 free relay to get its next victory.

The Auburn women’s triumph was founded on the Tigers’ distance prowess. Averee Preble won the 1,000 free and 200 fly. She settled for second in the 500 free behind teammate Emily Hetzer, who also won the 200 free. Carly Cummings won the 100 and 200 breaststroke and swam on the victorious 200 medley relay, along with Emma Steckiel, the winner of the 100 free.

Auburn’s divers also neutralized two wins by Florida State’s Samantha Vear by taking 2-3-4 in both events. Kensley Merritt (200 back) and Hannah Ownbey (400 IM) added wins for Auburn.

“Our freshmen women did a really good job of filling out our depth and getting some wins there as well,” Auburn head coach Gary Taylor said. “And our junior and senior women – we continue to lean on them, and they continue to get the job done.”

Florida State rallied mid-meet with Rebecca Moynihan winning the 50 free just before Vear’s one-meter diving points hit. Emma Terebo brought the outside smoke to win the 100 back from lane 1 in a 1-2-3 FSU finish, and freshman Jenny Halden posted a personal-best 52.66 to win the 100 fly, improving what had been the fifth-fastest in program history. The Seminoles gained a consolation win in the concluding 400 free relay, with Halden and Moynihan on the end.

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