The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1466831
MAY/JUNE 2022 ■ 25 the 100 backstroke in the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul and then won the bronze in the race four years later in Barcelona. He also took a pair of golds in the 4x100 medley relays in each Olympics and is in the International Swimming Hall of Fame. In late April, Katharine Berkoff set a second American record, finishing the 50-meter backstroke in 27.12 seconds at the Phillips 66 International Team Trials. Adding freestyle could help her achieve her Olympic dreams in 2024, since extra swimmers from that race are used on the team for relays. However, she wants to aim higher. Her goal is to take her suc- cesses in short course and translate that to the biggest stage. "I want to apply that for long course, since that's what the Olympics are on and that's been on my mind, too," she said. Hopefully for Berkoff, future reflec- tions around the Olympic Trials will involve celebrations like the one at the NCAA Championship, albeit much more subdued than her counterpart Kacper Stokowski on the men's side. "I'm not a big celebrator," she con- fessed. "I wish I was. I think celebrations are cool. That just feels out of character for me." ■ Wolfpack Women Finish Fifth In NCAA Team Race Junior Katharine Berkoff wasn't the only NC State swimmer to shine at the NCAA Championships. The Wolfpack claimed seven individual All-America honors at the event, which took place March 16-19 in Atlanta. Also, four relay teams won All-America notice. In addition to Berkoff's NCAA title-winning per - formance in the 100-yard backstroke, NC State finished second in the 200 and 400 medley relays. Both teams consisted of Berkoff, freshman Sophie Hansson, freshman Kylee Alons and sophomore Abby Arens. That same team was third in the 200 freestyle relay, while the Wolfpack also got third-place per - formances from Hansson in the 100 and 200 breast- stroke, and from Berkoff in the 100 freestyle. NC State placed fifth overall at the event. The team compiled 279 points to finish behind Virginia, Texas, Stanford and Alabama. It was the second- highest finish in program history, trailing only last year's second-place showing. — Matt Herb A two-time NCAA champion, Berkoff hopes to use her success at the collegiate level as a springboard to the 2024 Olympics. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS " Getting the American record [was especially gratifying]. I've always had goals like that. It's really nice to finally achieve that, because it's been on my mind for so long. " Berkoff