The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/743343
NOVEMBER 2016 ■ 109 "Their goal is to go out on top." The senior class includes Alexia Zevnik, who finished sixth in the 100 backstroke and seventh in the 200 back at the NCAA Championships to earn All-America hon- ors in both races. Zevnik was also All- ACC in the 200 individual medley, and she holds the school record in all three of those races as well as the 100 freestyle. She then competed for her native Canada in the Olympic Trials in four races (100 freestyle, 100 and 200 backstroke, and 200 individual medley). Kayla Brumbaum, an NCAA and U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier in the 100 and 200 breaststroke, is another senior. She holds school records for fastest times in both races and has the third-fastest 200 individual medley. Classmate Natalie Labonge has been a staple on the Pack's strong relay teams and added All-America honors in the 100 butterfly and All-ACC in the 50 freestyle last season. She was a semifinalist in the 100 butterfly at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Fellow fourth-year Lydia Jones was an U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier in the 200 butterfly, a race she holds the fastest time in school history and was All-ACC in 2016. Senior Rachel Muller teams with junior Hannah Moore to give NC State a po- tent force in the distance freestyle races. Muller was All-American in the 200, 500 and 1,650 races, and holds the second- fastest time only to Moore in the 500 and 1,650. Muller was an U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier in the 200, 400 and 800 freestyle. Holloway stressed, however, that the key to knocking off Virginia will be dependent on the depth of the roster that is allowed to compete at the ACC Championships. "Some of our big swimmers can only score a few more points, but for us to get Virginia it's going to take that 17th girl at the ACC meet to score in a few events and help in a few relays as well," he pointed out. Freshmen Vasiliki Baka and Ky-Lee Perry could potentially help replace the loss of top freestyle sprinter Riki Bonnema from last year's team. Florida Gulf Coast transfer and sophomore Elise Haan should help compliment Zevnik in the backstroke, too. Haan was an All-American in the race in 2016. Sophomore Courtney Caldwell is among several returnees that could el- evate their performances. Holloway noted Newcomer To Watch Ky-Lee Perry — The native of Norwalk, Conn., arrived at NC State this year with high expectations after qualifying for the United States Olympic Trials, and she could play a role in replacing Riki Bonnema, who graduated after last season as arguably NC State's fastest sprint freestyle swim - mer ever. Perry won the 50 and 100 freestyle at the 2016 YMCA Short Course National Championships, and her time in both races would have ranked as the fourth fastest in NC State school history. Perry was rated the No. 16 recruit in the 2016 class by CollegeSwimming.com. ■ Key Meets • Vs. Virginia, Jan. 28 — The Cavs have won nine straight ACC titles. This home meet will offer NCSU a chance to measure itself against the league's best. • ACC Championships, Feb. 13-16 — The Pack's quest to end Virginia's reign in the conference will be in Atlanta. • NCAA Championships, March 16-19 — Last year's ninth-place finish at the NCAA Champion - ships was the second best in school history, trailing only the eighth-place showing in 1982. This team hopes to set a new standard in program history with this year's meet in Indianapolis. Senior Rachel Muller holds the second-fastest 500 and 1,650 freestyle times in school history, trailing only her teammate junior Hannah Moore. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS Noting The Pack • Due to the fallout from North Carolina's HB2 bill, the ACC moved its swimming championships out of its original location of Greensboro, N.C., this year. The meet will instead be hosted by Atlanta. • NC State selected its team captains, and rep- resenting the women's side for the second straight year are seniors Natalie Labonge, Lydia Jones and Alexia Zevnik. • Five swimmers made the All-ACC Academic team for 2015-16: seniors Natalie Labonge, Rachel Muller and Alexia Zevnik; sophomore Courtney Caldwell; and Shelly Craddock, who was a senior last year.