The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1542201
TRACKING THE PACK JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 ■ 17 PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE FOOTBALL It's a result-driven business, and I got the result. I'm sure lot of people would criticize my technique, but I got the job done, I guess." — Redshirt senior punter Caden Noonkester after recovering the ball when his short punt ricocheted off the helmet of a Florida State player, giving NC State possession and helping it run out the clock in a 21-11 win over the Seminoles on Nov. 21 It was awesome. It wasn't perfect today, but we always talk about how it doesn't have to be perfect to end up with the results that you want. We had people who maybe didn't have their best days, but they just kept fight- ing, and it all came together. I'm super grateful to be coaching these women. I'm so proud of them." — Women's cross country coach Laurie Henes, to ESPN, after watching her team win its fourth national championship in the past five seasons 4 , 672 Distance in air miles from Raleigh to Rio de Janeiro, site of next year's football season opener between the Wolfpack and Virginia. Set to take place Aug. 29 at Nilton Santos Stadium, it will be the first college football game ever played in South America. 108 Tackles by Indianapolis Colts and former Wolfpack linebacker Germaine Pratt in 13 games, which ranks 19th in the NFL. 10.8 Tackles per game by graduate linebacker CADEN FORDHAM, the ACC's best aver- age. Fordham finished the regular season with 130 stops, the highest total of any player in the Power Four conferences. Fordham earned first-team All-ACC honors and was named an All-American by The Associated Press (third team) and The Sporting News (second team). 2 College Cup appearances by the NC State men's soccer team after the Wolfpack reached the NCAA Tourna- ment's title game with a 2-1 victory over St. Louis before losing to Washington, 3-2, in overtime in the champion- ship contest. The previous appearance in the College Cup was in 1990 when NC State fell to UCLA on penalty kicks in the semifinal round. We've got to build from here, but this was progress. We made progress in the last week. It didn't show up on the scoreboard today, but if we can keep making progress, I think we'll like where we [are]." —Men's basketball coach Will Wade following his team's 83-73 loss to No. 20 Auburn on Dec. 3 PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS