With every swim meaning so much to the team race, Joe Patching put the team on his shoulders in the 200 IM, winning the SEC title to keep Auburn within striking distance of first-place Florida after two days of the SEC Swimming and Diving Championships.
"The men are in a fight, a battle right now," Auburn head coach Brett Hawke said. "We are a couple of days in with three to go. From what we've done, I'm really happy with it, but there is a lot more to do."
Patching, who after two-plus years was still in search of his first SEC gold medal -- individual or relay -- grabbed hold of the lead on the second leg of the 200 IM and never let up, touching in a school record 1:42.