The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1249704
14 ■ THE WOLFPACKER TRACKING THE PACK 6 Straight ACC championships won by the men's swimming and diving team. The Pack totaled seven event titles and 13 podium finishes en route to its 30th conference title in the sport. 16 Former NC State players that were rated three-star recruits or lower have been selected in the last five NFL Drafts, which is tied with Washington and Wisconsin for the second highest total nationally, trailing only Utah's 17. 27 Members of the NC State men's and women's swimming and diving teams were named All-Americans for the 2019-20 season. Due to the NCAA Champion- ships being canceled, the selection criteria was adjusted, which resulted in 12 men and 15 women being honored. 47.3 Percent chance of win- ning or better NC State was given in eight of its 12 regular-season football games next year, according to ESPN's Football Power Index. The Wolfpack was a heavy favorite in two tilts (95.2 percent versus Delaware and 79.1 percent against Liberty), while its chances in six other contests checked in be- tween 47.3 and 57.8 percent. "As great of a player as Chris Combs was, his contri- bution to NC State baseball goes well beyond statis- tics and accolades, and far beyond wins and losses. He represents the best in human spirit, the best of what it means to wear an NC State baseball jersey, and it's only fitting his number should be honored for everyone who steps into our ballpark to see." — Head baseball coach Elliott Avent on the decision for his program to honor the No. 26 worn by former standout CHRIS COMBS (1994-97), who is currently and courageously battling ALS; it is the first number to be honored by the program, although former head coach Sam Esposito's No. 4 is retired (GoPack.com) PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS "In order to have an athletic department, we need to play football for everybody, because of the finances that go with it. There's going to be back-end issues that come up the later it goes, but I don't think that means you cancel it, either. You figure out how to deal with those issues as we go." — Dave Doeren (ESPN.com) BY THE NUMBERS Sponsored by Colony Tire & Service www.colonytire.com 2 Consecutive years that the doubles team of senior ANNA ROGERS and sophomore ALANA SMITH (right) were named All-Americans by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. They were the women's tennis team's first All-Americans in 2018-19 and repeated the honor after going 29-4 this season, including a 9-2 mark against nationally ranked foes. The duo was listed No. 1 nationally for four and a half months, never ranked lower than No. 2 and helped the team reach an all-time high of No. 3 in the country. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS 29 , 000 Season tickets have been sold for the upcoming football season, as of May 7. Despite the uncertainty of athletic events due to COVID-19, that renewal mark stands at an impressive 85 percent of the same date a year prior.