The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1543694
MARCH/APRIL 2026 ■ 47 before he arrived in Raleigh. A Las Ve- gas native, he attended Palo Verde High School and trained year-round with a tight-knit team, the Las Vegas Swim Club. In his last three seasons at Palo Verde, Carlsen brought home six individual state championships — three wins in the 200 freestyle and three in the 500 free. Those performances were good enough to earn him a spot at the 2024 Olympic Trials. Exceptional athletic performance runs in the Carlsen family. Max is the second of four children, and not the first collegiate athlete. His brother Owen swims at the University of Utah, where he is now a sophomore. For years, the two brothers trained side by side. "We always would race each other and pace each other. Around my sophomore or junior year is when I started pull- ing past him. So, yeah, I would say I'm faster than my brother," Carlsen said with a smile. Carlsen's father, Rene, was a distance runner at Oklahoma State in the 1990s, setting a standard of excellence that fu- els Max. "I try to swim fast for my dad, to be on the same level as him," Carlsen said. The freshman finds motivation in the water from each person in his life, es- pecially noting his parents, siblings and grandparents, who call him after every meet. "I swim for everyone in my life," Carlsen said. "I have a reason for each person. I always want to perform for them." The Right Fit When it came time to make decisions about where he would swim in college, Carlsen said he didn't obsess over rank- ings or who could offer the most money. Instead, he was focused on the identity of the team. "Where could I go and be happy?" he said. "What kind of team and culture can I be around? What coaches fit my personality?" He first connected with NC State's staff at Summer Juniors in California, which led to a visit to Raleigh soon after. "The team really stuck out to me. It felt like a family," he said. "Being here felt like somewhere I could be with friends as well. It being a fast school was kind of secondary, but it is very nice that everyone here is so fast." After a strong regular season, the Wolfpack entered the ACC Champion- ships ranked No. 8 in the nation. Carlsen shined at the conference meet Feb. 15-21 in Atlanta, winning gold medals in the 500- and 1,650-yard freestyle events to propel the team to a third-place fin- ish. Carlsen's 4:09.44 in the 500 was second-fastest in program history, while his 14:32.68 in the mile was fifth- fastest. Those performances were a reflection of how well he's fit into the NC State team culture. "I've made a connection with every- one," Carlsen said. "I feel so comfort- able here. I have so many great friends. It really is something special here in NC State." Carlsen has settled into the life of a student-athlete. He is an engineering major, and after a "reality check" of a first semester, he's finding his groove in the classroom, as well. The team-oriented culture of the Wolfpack is a perfect fit for Carlsen, and it's evident in his goals for the rest of the campaign. Getting set to wrap up his season at the NCAA Champion- ships March 25-28 in Atlanta, his focus is straightforward. "My only goal is to score as much as I can for the team," Carlsen said. "If that's getting first place or second place, I just need to place as high as I can. It's an honor to be able to provide for your team." ■ " My only goal is to score as much as I can for the team. If that's getting first place or second place, I just need to place as high as I can. It's an honor to be able to provide for your team." Carlsen During a dual meet against Virginia in January, Carlsen set an ACC record when he finished the 1,000-yard race in 8:41.12. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS