The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/896287
104 ■ THE WOLFPACKER has fun," Holloway said. "He knows the journey is going to be over real soon." Although the Pack lost some valuable swimmers from last year's team, includ- ing All-American Soren Dahl and long- distance swimmer Adam Linker, there is plenty of firepower supporting Held. Senior Anton Ipsen is a seven-time All- American and five-time ACC champ, and the best long-distance swimmer NC State has ever had. Junior Andreas Vazaios made a big splash in his debut coming from Greece, winning three ACC individual titles and then garnering two individual All-America honors, in addition to being part of the 800 free relay that captured the national title. "He's more comfortable with the guys," Holloway said of Vazaios. "He's a pretty big fan favorite here. The guys love him, and he's a good leader as well. They look up to him for leadership." Junior Justin Ress, who was also part of the 800 free relay, enjoyed a huge sum- mer, winning the 50-meter backstroke at the U.S. Open/World Championship Trials and then finishing sixth in the event at the FINA World Championships. He was also named Most Decorated Male Athlete at Senior Anton Ipsen has already established himself as the best long-distance swimmer NC State has ever had, winning five ACC titles and earning seven All-America accolades. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS Three Swimmers To Watch Senior Ryan Held Last season, Held had a huge NCAA Championships, taking second in the 50-yard freestyle, third in the 100 free and fourth in the 100 butterfly. He also was part of the 800 free relay that won the NCAA title by breaking a national record with a time of 6:06.53. Junior Justin Ress A back injury has slowed Ress' return to the pool in the fall, but he enjoyed a huge summer that saw him win the U.S. Trials in the 50-meter backstroke. That victory allowed him to compete in the World Champi - onships, and then later in the summer he won three gold medals, including an individual title in the 100 backstroke, at the World University Games. Junior Andreas Vazaois Vazaois advanced to the A-finals (top eight times in prelims) in three different races at the NCAA Champi - onship meet: 200-yard butterfly (finished fifth), 200 individual medley (seventh) and 100 backstroke (eighth). He won the 200 butterfly and 200 individual medley in meet record-times at the ACC Championships. Over the summer, he set the Greek national records in the 200-meter individual medley and the 200 free at the World Championships.