The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/790572
16 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY MATT CARTER The renaissance of the NC State swimming and diving pro- gram is now complete. The women's swimming and diving team made history Feb. 21, the fourth and final day of the ACC Championships in Atlanta, by defeating nine-time defending champ Virginia to claim its first league title since winning back-to-back crowns in 1979 and 1980. It was the third league title for the women. Prior to head coach Braden Holloway's arrival in 2011-12, the women had not finished better than fifth in the ACC Cham- pionships since 1993 when it came in third. The year prior to Holloway being hired, it was eighth at the league meet. The Wolfpack had shown the potential earlier in the year to pull it off when they went head to head in a dual against the Cavs in Raleigh and prevailed by a narrow 153-147 margin. NCSU entered the ACC Championships ranked No. 7 in the coaches' poll, one spot ahead of Virginia, which finished sec- ond, and three spots in front of Louisville, which came in third. Senior Alexia Zevnik was the Pack's top scorer and was named the meet's Most Valuable Swimmer. She won three of NCSU's four individual titles with victories in the 100 and 200 backstroke and the 200 individual medley. She is the first Wolfpack swimmer since Amy Lepping in 1980 to win all three races she entered. Zevnik also participated on a pair of relay teams, including setting a school record in the 100 freestyle with a split of 47.38 seconds in the final race of the meet, the 400 freestyle relay. Next up for the women will be the NCAA Championships March 15-18 in Indianapolis. The women placed ninth at the meet last year. The men were the nation's top-ranked team in the most pre- vious coaches' poll, which was released Feb. 1. The two-time reigning ACC champions defended their title Feb. 27-March 2. ■ TRACKING THE PACK Women's Swimming And Diving Triumphs At ACC Championships The NC State women's swimming and diving program celebrated its first ACC championship since winning back-to-back titles in 1979 and 1980. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS