Women's Recruiting - #9 Auburn

The recent departure of Dorsey Tierney for Arizona State leaves Auburn with something it hasn’t had in over a decade – a strong female coaching presence. Whether it was Tierney, or Kim Brackin before her, that model, that champion for their team within the framework of a combined program, always seemed to give the Tigers a little something extra when compared to their SEC competitors.

How Head Coach Brett Hawke handles the remaining coaching vacancy remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain, Tierney left cupboard full when she left for Tempe. The Tigers lose just 52 points to graduation. While that’s a lot to some programs, it’s a pittance to a team like Auburn, then again the Tigers aren’t content with sixth place.

Gone is NCAA backstroke champion Rachel Goh, but Tess Riordan arrives from Canada with the ability to score in just about anything. While our rankings only account for a swimmer’s top three events – Riordan’s times rank her first in the 50 and 100 freestyle, top fifteen in the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke, and even in the top fifty of the 200 back, 500 free and mile. She young still, but she’s a one-woman wrecking machine.

The other big sprint stud in the class is Becca Jones of Virginia Beach. Jones and Virginia-bound Lauren Perdue are the fastest prep sprinters graduating this year. Jones’ development has been long in coming. Her mom, Sandra helped establish the Tide Swim Team twenty years ago. In years past Riordan and Jones’ names would be penciled into the Auburn sprint relays. As power development becomes more and more refined among college-aged women, however, its not a certainty. Give them a year under strength coach Brian Karkoska’s watchful eye, though, and they’ll money.

Auburn didn’t have to do much to land Ohio’s swimmer-of-the-year Darcy Fishback. The Upper Arlington flyer who broke Whitney Myers’ state record fell in love when she visited in the fall. "It was like a family, it just felt right,” she told Ohio High magazine. Fishback, who won four state titles in Canton’s storied has her eyes set on NCAA titles. She’s another who will benefit as the suit technology returns to earth.

Katie Gardocki and Sterling Wine offer Auburn some depth in the distance events. They’re not going to be mistaken for Adrienne Binder or Hayley Peirsol – two Auburn distance greats – but if Maggie Bird can take them under her wing, they will become impact players. Breaststroker Laura Johnson rounds out the class. She’s not at the elite-level yet, but she’s top-twenty in her events. That will give the Tigers one more option in a breaststroker-by-committee that returners Micah Lawrence, Melanie Roberts, Abby MacGregor.

Riordan, Tess	83.04	2	Cornwall, Canada
Jones, Rebecca	79.44	8	Virginia Beach, VA	Tide
Fishback, Darcy	62.95	107	Upper Arlington, OH	Upper Arlington Swim Club
Gardocki, Katie	62.87	108	Suffield, CT	Aquabears
Johnson, Laura	61.62	118	Montgomery, AL	Montgomery YMCA Barracudas
Wine, Sterling	56.99	191	Orlando, FL	Highlander Aquatic Club