The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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120 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY JACEY ZEMBAL T he NC State women's swimming team created a new standard last year by finishing 16th at the NCAA Championships. The finish was the highest for the wom‑ en's program since 1982‑83, when the Wolfpack placed 15th. Head coach Braden Holloway had challenged the women to push themselves to a higher level, and they responded. "Now they feel good about what they are able to achieve," Holloway said. "Even through adversity or not, they realize they have potential every time they step on to the pool deck, and can be pretty good." Holloway pointed out the rise in confi‑ dence was a much‑needed jolt to the wom‑ en's program. "Before they hoped they could do it, and now they know they can do it and feel they can do it each time," Holloway said. NC State finished fourth at the ACC Championships, but broke 15 school re‑ cords at the event. Six swimmers return with past All‑ACC experience, but the Wolfpack will miss graduate Zina Grogg, who was part of the 200 medley relay that earned first‑team All‑America honors. Se‑ nior Lauren Poli, and juniors Ashlyn Ko‑ letic and Riki Bonnema all return from the eighth‑place relay (1:37.73). Poli, Koletic, Bonnema and sophomore Natalie Labonge earned honorable mention All‑America accolades after finishing 10th in the 200 freestyle relay (1:28.16). La‑ bonge, Bonnema, and sophomores Alexia Zevnik and Lotta Nevalainen did the same in finishing 11th in the 400 freestyle relay (3:15.29). "Our relays are strong and held together by our sprinters," Holloway said. "A lot of our sprinters could make it [to the NCAA Championships] in the 50 freestyle or the 100, like Poli or Bonnema." Holloway called Labonge the squad's biggest surprise, and she's part of a well‑ regarded group of sophomores. "She had a great summer and could go to two or three events at the NCAAs," Hol‑ loway said. "Zevnik just missed out last year individually and she is already ahead of where she was last year." Holloway has been encouraged by sophomore breaststroke swimmers Kayla Brumbaum and Addisynn Bursch. A third ■ PREVIEW WOMEN'S SWIMMING Newcomer To Watch Lauren Rhodes The Charlotte Catholic standout led her school to four straight NCHSAA state cham- pionships, and finished as a six- time individual state champion and eight-time relay champion. She also competed in the USA Swimming Junior National Championships, and was at the 2012 U.S. Olympic team trials in the 50-meter freestyle and 100-meter freestyle. CollegeSwim- ming.com ranked her as the third-best prospect in North Carolina and the No. 34 overall swimmer in the country. She has the ability to swim freestyle, butterfly and backstroke. New Standards The Wolfpack Returns A Strong Nucleus After Its Best NCAA Finish In Three Decades Junior Riki Bonnema earned All-ACC honors in the 50 freestyle and was part of three relays that achieved All-America recognition at the NCAA Championships last season. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS