The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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118 ■ THE WOLFPACKER the 50 freestyle (19.21 seconds) and 11th in the 100 freestyle (42.42). "Simonas had a real big year for us last year," Holloway said. "He just allows us to move some people around. He can cover three individual events for us each and every meet." Coetzer was an honorable mention All- American after finishing 13th in the 200 backstroke (1:41.30). "Coetzer had a big summer qualifying for the World Championships coming up in December," Holloway said. The coach said a few other swimmers are poised for big years, including sophomore Derek Hiren. "You add all the guys together, and it's a pretty solid crew that is coming back," Holloway said. "Even though we graduated those four key guys from the NCAAs, but we Noting The Pack • Seniors Michael Camper, John Newell and David Williams are the three tri-captains for the men's swimming team. "They all kind of have different roles being a captain," head coach Braden Holloway said. "Michael has been a captain three other times before. He is used to that position. He works as a glue to a lot of individuals and personalities." Newell and Williams balance each other out with their different leadership styles. "John, some of his biggest traits are more on the spirit side," Holloway said. "The guy's attitude is one of the best I have ever seen, and it helps others. David is more the bad cop and calls people out more." Camper could miss half the season due to surgery, but Holloway is hopeful he will return in January. • The recruiting perception of NC State has definitely been altered the last few years. Holloway half-joked that it is a "little bit nicer to say NC State on the phone" when he contacts coaches and recruits. "It is a little bit easier when you call the higher level of recruits," Holloway said. "They know you a little bit more than when we started this whole process as a staff. We are a little more established out there with the club coaches and high school coaches. Our name is out there a lot more than it was." Cary (N.C.) High senior standout Justin Ress, Denver D'Evelyn senior Daniel Graber and Medford (N.J.) Shaw - nee senior Jon Burkett have verbally committed to NC State. CollegeSwimming.com ranks Ress No. 75 in the class of 2015, and Graber and Burkett are ranked No. 123 and No. 163, respectively. Three Swimmers To Watch Junior Simonas Bilis The standout freestyle sprinter from Lithuania earned honorable mention All-America hon- ors in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle at the NCAA Championships. He was also part of the 400 freestyle relay and 800 freestyle relay, which earned first-team All-America status. He also earned All-ACC in three individual events and three different relays. He won the ACC title in the 100 freestyle (42.26), and improved upon his school record by logging a time of 42.19 at the NCAA Championships. Junior Christian McCurdy McCurdy had an exciting sophomore year, capped by earning first-team All-America honors with a fourth-place finish in the 200 butterfly (1:42.18) at the NCAA Championships. The Irwin, Pa., product won two events at the ACC Championships — 200 butterfly and 400 individual medley — and he dusted off the history books in the process. The conference title in the 200 butterfly was the first for NC State since 1978 and set a school and ACC record, while the victory in the 400 IM was the first for NCSU since 1984 and also was a school mark. Senior David Williams The Chapel Hill, N.C., product earned first-team All-America honors in the 400 freestyle relay and 800 freestyle relay at the NCAA Championships, and took home six All-ACC honors in helping the Wolfpack finish second in the league. Williams also earned honorable mention All-America accolades in the 50 freestyle and the 200 medley relay. His time of 19.11 seconds in the 50 freestyle at the ACC Championships ranks second all time at NC State, and he owns the school record in the 200 freestyle (1:34.14). Junior Christian McCurdy captured ACC titles in the 200 butterfly and 400 individual medley a year ago, and then earned first-team All-America honors with a fourth-place finish in the 200 butterfly (1:42.18) at the NCAA Championships. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS ■ Key Dates Vs. Minnesota, Jan. 23-24 — NC State's 155-143 win over Georgia was arguably the biggest dual meet of the season Oct. 18, but having Minnesota come to Ra- leigh could be a good one. Minnesota defeated NC State 192-159 a year ago, and the Gophers went on to finish 22nd at the NCAA Championships. Vs. North Carolina, Jan. 31 — The rivalry meet returns to Raleigh this season. UNC edged NC State 154-144 last year in Chapel Hill, but then the Wolfpack finished one spot ahead of the Tar Heels with a second- place finish at the ACC Championships. ACC Championships — Diving, Feb. 18-21; Swimming, Feb. 25-28 — The men's diving takes place in Atlanta with the women's ACC Championships, and the men's swimming portion then takes place in Atlanta. Virginia Tech won the title last year with 1,264.5 points, and NC State was second with 1,226. ACC newcomer Louisville had the highest national finish with an 11th- place showing at the NCAA Championships.