A Swimming Sneak Peek: Individual Medley - AuburnTigers.com - Auburn University Official Athletic Site

A Swimming Sneak Peek: Individual Medley Senior captains Ava Ohlgren and Tyler McGill lead the way in the IM

Ava Ohlgren

Oct. 19, 2009

AUBURN, Ala. - The 2009-10 season is fast approaching, with the Auburn swimming and diving team opening the season on Oct. 23 at LSU. In anticipation for the upcoming season, AuburnTigers.com will take a sneak peek on each stroke leading up to the first meet.

Women's IM Sneak Peek
Ava Ohlgren is returning as one of the top individual medley swimmers in the country. Coming off a successful summer at the World University Games, Ohlgren captured both 200 and 400 IM titles at the international competition. The senior captain has earned a NCAA title in both events and is a three-time SEC champion in the 200 IM and a two-time SEC champion in the 400 IM.

"Ava doesn't have a real weakness and that is what makes her great in the IM," Assistant coach Paul Yetter said. "She has great turns and a solid endurance base that allows her to finish all of her races strong."

Looking to accompany Ohlgren in the IM will be juniors Melanie Roberts and Caitlin Geary. Both represented the Tigers in the 200 IM final at SECs and will look to make impacts in that event.

"Caitlin is a very strong swimmer overall and is a tough competitor," Yetter said. "Melanie had some great swims this summer and we will count on her to be a top scorer in both IM events, especially at the conference meet."

A trio of newcomers will provide depth in both the 200 and 400 IM events for Auburn. Katie Gardocki's strength in distance events will give the Tigers another strong swimmer in the 400 IM. Laura Johnson and Lauren Norberg, predominately breaststroke swimmers, have great potential to be successful in the 200 IM and will be looked to develop into strong IM competitors.

Men's IM Sneak Peek
Auburn returns a handful of experienced swimmers, including senior captain Tyler McGill and junior Andrew Mitchell, in the IM events. McGill returns as the Auburn record-holder and SEC runner-up in the 200 IM and Mitchell enters the 2009-10 season as an All-American in the 400 IM.

"Tyler has a great butterfly stroke and can take it out fast or conserve energy and come out on top in the end," Yetter said. "He's going to be very strong in the 200 IM again this year. Andrew is improving rapidly and has strengths in all strokes. We'll be looking to him to be a leader in both events."

Also returning is senior Michael Silva and juniors Robert Looney and Adam Klein. Silva and Klein both excel in the breaststroke, but will provide experience in the 200 IM. Looney, a distance swimmer, has a strong freestyle and butterfly and will contribute in the 400 IM.

Freshmen Stuart Ferguson, Chris Kramer and Kyle Owens will add depth in the individual medley events for the Tigers.

"Stuart and Kyle do not have much weakness in any of the strokes and have great potential to score a lot of points for us at both the SEC and NCAA Championships," Yetter said. "Chris will give us a lot of energy in the 400 IM."