The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/503388
64 ■ THE WOLFPACKER remembered when his staff first hit the trail recruiting, the response he typically received was along the lines of "that's a lofty goal you got there, but I don't know, you haven't done anything yet." Times have quickly changed. One of Holloway's assistants was recently told by the swimming coach of a prospec‑ tive recruit that his prized swimmer likes NC State, but he was not sure if he was good enough for the Wolfpack. Holloway felt that alone almost shows the growth of the program. "You walk around proud," Holloway said. "When you walk around you are noticed. People are coming up to you. It feels good. It feels good for our school, for NC State, to have that brand name out there for swimming and diving. "It's definitely a lot more fun to recruit than it was. You find yourself talking to a lot more coaches that have highly ranked recruits. It's definitely pretty nice experience." The NCSU swimming and diving com‑ munity is also walking around with a re‑ newed sense of pride, with many making the drive to Atlanta for the final day of the men's conference championship to take in the moment. The return of the former Pack swim‑ mers and divers has helped instill a sense of the program's tradition into the current roster. The men's team's 25 ACC titles are the most in the conference. From 1954‑85, NC State won 23 of the league's 31 crowns. The women also captured a pair of league titles. "The tradition that you've heard about, the old traditions, certain phrases, certain team cheers, certain images — these kids have latched onto that," Holloway noted. "Now that we are competing at a higher level, these traditions are meaning that much more to the kids." When the ACC title became official this year, the men's team collectively took a victorious dive into the pool. Holloway was set to join them, but he pulled back. "I just wanted to watch them," he said. "I wanted to see the enjoyment on their faces. Once I saw it, then I jumped in it, too. "It was kind of surreal that it was hap‑ pening. It was a great experience, and one these guys will carry with them for the rest of their lives." ■ Former Pack standout Jonathan Boffa, a seven-time All-American, experienced immediate suc- cess as a sophomore under Holloway and his staff, which helped others buy into the program. PHOTO BY LARRY BLANKENSHIP