The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/197085
■ Key Meets To Watch At Minnesota, Jan. 24-25 — The Big Ten school will be hosting a big meet on both the men's and women's side. NCSU's men's program will get to go against some colleges from outside the South to get a gauge where they stand. At North Carolina, Jan. 31 — NC State will be looking to spoil UNC's Senior Night in the dual meet. The Wolfpack lost 159.5-140.5 to the Tar Heels in Raleigh last year. ACC Championships — Diving, Feb. 19-22; Swimming, Feb. 26-March 1 — NC State got tested early in the season with a dual meet at Virginia Tech Oct. 19, and a triangular meet with Georgia Tech and Florida State Oct. 25 in Tallahassee, Fla.Virginia Tech is the defending champion and FSU is the early-season favorite. Key Swimmers To Watch Senior Jonathan Boffa The native of Verona, Italy, participated in the 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay, 800 freestyle relay and 400 medley relay at the NCAA Championships last year. He also competed individually in the 100 freestyle, finishing second in at the ACC Championships. Boffa also is a three-time All-ACC academic selection. Senior Barrett Miesfeld Miesfeld has been breaking the 100 butterfly school record since he arrived at NC State from Tucson, Ariz. Miesfeld clocked 47.49 seconds in the event during his freshman year, then lowered it to 47.32 as a sophomore, and 46.14 last year. He also has helped post school records in the 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay. Senior Matt Thomas Thomas is an integral member of NC State's 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay, which both own school records. The Rockville, Md., native enters his final season ninth in school history in the 50 freestyle (20.03 seconds), fifth in the 100 freestyle (43.60) and sixth in the 200 freestyle (1:36.80). ■ By The Numbers 7 National titles in individual events by Wolfpack men's swimmers. Cullen Jones last won a men's title in the 50 freestyle in 2006. Other past winners include Bob Mattson in 1955, Dick Fadgen (who won twice) in 1956, Ed Spencer in 1962, Steve Gregg in 1976 and David Fox in 1993. Seconds in the 50 freestyle by former NC State superstar swimmer Cullen Jones, who has gone on to Olympic fame, in 2006 to set a school record. Senior Jonathan Boffa, who posted a time of 19.55 last year, will get one last chance to break the mark. ACC titles for the men's swimming program, including an ACC-record 12 straight from 1971‑82. The Wolfpack last won the ACC in 1992. 19.07 24 Senior Matt Thomas is an important part of NC State's 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relays, both of which have set school records. photo courtesy nc state media relations return from the 400 medley relay, which also earned honorable mention AllAmerica honors. Miesfeld, Camper, Bishop and Williams also reached the NCAA Championships in the 200 medley relay. Bishop, Thomas and senior Maximus Litvinov were named tri-captains this season. Bishop is the most vocal of the group, while Thomas is considered a glue guy. Litvinov leads by example and knows how to get things accomplished. Virginia Tech, where Holloway was once an assistant coach, won the ACC men's title last year. Florida State is considered the preseason favorite and was ranked No. 6 in the country as of mid-October. Holloway hopes the momentum from last year continues to permeate through the program. "It's reminding themselves what they are here to do and to not lose that focus," Holloway said. "It's fun to be around them each and every day to see their desire and focus on what they want to do. The staff does a great job of helping the atmosphere each day." ■ Noting The Pack • NC State has had success with its various relays, and junior David Williams of Chapel Hill, N.C., has been a big reason why. Williams is part of relays that have set NC State records in the 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay and 800 freestyle relay. He also reached the NCAA Championships in the 200 medley relay. "He is the hammer and he is a relay guy," head coach Braden Holloway said. "All of our guys are relay guys if you look at the relays compared to the normal events, but he is a guy that if you go to battle, you want him in there. A lot of times we put him last because it gets him even more excited. He embraces that role." • CollegeSwimming.com ranked a pair of NC State freshman swimmers in its top 125 for the class of 2013. Andreas Schliellerup of Birkerod, Denmark, checked in at No. 29, and Stuart Sharp of Houston was ranked No. 122. NC State is off to a great start in the class of 2014. CollegeSwimming.com ranks senior verbal commits Soren Dahl at No. 15 and Anton Ipsen two spots down at No. 17. Both are from Denmark. Holly Springs, N.C., standout Colin Ellington is ranked No. 24; Hennessey Stuart of Denver is rated No. 37; Ryan Held of Springfield, Ill., is listed No. 47; and Benjamin Cono of Saint James, N.Y., is ranked No. 160. 110 ■ the wolfpacker 108-110.Men's Swimming Preview.indd 110 10/22/13 2:07 PM