The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1519757
46 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY MATT HERB ou wouldn't know it from looking at her résumé, b u t K a t h a r i n e Be rko f f dealt with her fair share of health setbacks during her first four seasons as a col- legiate swimmer. "Usually, I'd get sick or something, and it would mess me up pretty good at least once per year," Berkoff said. This past season, however, was a re- freshing departure from that pattern. Heading into her fifth and final postsea- son as a member of the NC State wom- en's swimming team, Berkoff was feel- ing great, in the pool and out. Spared the worst ravages of the cold and flu season, she was happy with the times she was posting in competition and ex- cited about how her final events as a collegiate swimmer were shaping up. "It's not super normal for me," she conceded prior to the ACC Champion- ships in March. "But I've been swim- ming a lot faster this season than I ever have. I'm really excited for the end of the year. I've been swimming with a lot less pressure on my head, and I think it's really benefitted me. I'm ready to just see what happens at NCAAs and ACCs. No expectations, just trying to do the best I can for the team." Berkoff's best turned out to be very good indeed. At the ACC meet, she cap- tured the 100-yard backstroke title in 48.70 seconds, becoming the first swim- mer in league history to win the same event five years in a row. In addition, she took third in the 100- and 50-yard free- style events while also contributing to three medal-winning relay teams. At t h e NCA A C h a m p i o n s h i ps a month later, Berkoff claimed the gold medal in the 100 backstroke, winning in a program-record 48.55 seconds. It was the fifth national title of her career and her third in the 100 back. She also placed second in both the 50- and 100- yard freestyle events. Y FINISHING KICK Katharine Berkoff Caps Her Wolfpack Career With NCAA And ACC Backstroke Titles, But An Even Bigger Goal Awaits Berkoff won her fifth NCAA championship in March when she posted a school-record time of 48.55 seconds in the 100-yard backstroke. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS