A family legacy continues.
Growing up watching her older brother compete, senior Auria Knight knew she wanted to do the same. “He looked like he was having a lot of fun and I knew I wanted to try it too.”
Starting at a young age, Auria practiced and competed with her brothers, Merrick and Stokes Knight. As her older brother, Stokes provided the stepping stones for her to be successful. Through swimming and her brothers, Auria has learned many life lessons.
“There are a lot of things in life that are hard, but knowing that I have learned the ability to push myself even when it is hard and I don’t want to, is something that changed how I see the world,” Auria said.
Throughout the years of Auria’s swimming career, this mindset shines through.
“I know that what we do is not easy but neither are my goals,” Auria said.
In her sophomore year of high school, Auria broke the 50 freestyle record for the first time. With her hard training and determination she finally joined her older brother on the record board.
This accomplishment was just the beginning for Auria. On Jan. 8, 2026, she broke the record again. This time, Auria was not expecting it. “When I first touched the wall in prelims [and looked at the board] my first thought was that the board was messed up. I couldn’t believe that I just rebroke the record,” Auria said. “I was just going into the meet wanting a base time for sectionals and wanted to just go in to have fun.”
While Auria’s older brother is off swimming at University of Southern Indiana, she has her younger brother Merrick beside her. This time though is different. Auria is placing the building blocks to see her younger brother succeed.
“Some of the stuff she says to him is laying the lessons so that he knows what he’s supposed to do when she is not here,” Nikki Knight, assistant coach and mother to Auria, said.
“He has also pushed me this year. I don’t want my little brother to be faster than me obviously,” Auria said.
Not only does Auria value her times but she values her family deeply. “It also made us closer this year which makes me so happy, I wish I could swim with him longer,” she said.
In the future, Auria sees herself swimming in college. “My dream would be to swim next year at USI with my brother Stokes again,” she said.
“She has swam her best when she has had a brother in the pool with her,” Nikki said.
From growing up together in and out of the pool, Auria has gotten a lot of her drive and perseverance from her family.
“We all believe in each other and want the absolute best for each other,” Auria said.
