Senior Aidan Stoffle has announced via Instagram that he’s staying at Auburn University for his 5th-year of eligibility for the 2023-24 season. The 5th year of eligibility was given to all winter sport athletes who participated in the 2020-21 NCAA season that was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stoffle has been an integral part of the Auburn men’s rebuild, earning individual NCAA Honorable Mention All-American status three times in his career and contributing to NCAA scoring relays.
In 2022, he was one of three individual scorers for the Tigers, finishing 15th in the 100 backstroke.
At the 2023 championships, he followed that up by earning 9th in the 200 backstroke (1:39.30) and 12th in the 100 backstroke (45.09). Both those swims were personal bests, and moved him up Auburn’s all-time rankings; he’s now second in the 200 back and third in the 100 back. His brother Nate Stoffle, a current sophomore, holds the school record in the 100 backstroke with a 44.89.
A. Stoffle also qualified for 2023 NCAAs in the 100 fly, but DFS’ed the race. His personal best of 45.68 is seventh in Auburn’s all-time ranks.
Best SCY Times:
- 100 freestyle: 43.07 (41.92 split)
- 100 backstroke: 45.09
- 200 backstroke: 1:39.30
- 100 butterfly: 45.68
Along with 14 individual points he scored in Minneapolis, he was also on three of the Tigers’ scoring relays: the 200 medley relay (9th), 400 freestyle relay (9th), and 400 medley relay (12th). The relays were a focus point for the Tigers this year, which paid off for them as all five of their relays scored, accounting for over 60% of their points total. They needed every bit of them too, as they secured their 10th place finish at 2023 NCAAs by beating Ohio State in the 400 freestyle relay, the final event of the meet.
Auburn scored 127 en route to their 10th place finish, which is the highest they’ve finished in the standings since 2016. It’s a remarkable improvement for them, as they finished 29th with 22 points in 2022, and didn’t score at all in 2021. Their 127 points this year were more than they’d scored at the last three championships combined.
In addition to his success at NCAAs, Stoffle is also a major contributor for the Tigers at the conference level. At the 2023 SEC Championships, he finished fourth in the 200 back, fifth in the 100 fly, and tenth in the 100 back. The Tigers finished second at SECs. Like NCAAs, it was also the program’s highest finish since 2016.
With Stoffle using his fifth-year of eligibility, Auburn returns all of their individual NCAA points from the pool, and 19 of the 20 relay legs.
Clever move from the honey badger
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c36UNSoJenI
That video was spectacular. Thanks!
CAPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Zoie Hartmann doing a 5th at Georgia
Really? That’s a little bit surprising. Hopefully helps the Dawgs rebound a little bit next year!
She has been on a downward trajectory since her frosh year. I don’t think she had any A finals. Her 8free split was probably her best swim this year! They still need her for sure.
W manz
Why not? Good for Aidan and congratulations to the entire Stoffle family 🙂