The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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30 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY MATT CARTER F or the third straight year, the NC State men's swimming and diving squad finished fourth at the NCAA Championships — but this year's meet in Minne- apolis March 21-24 felt different than the previous two. The main reason: NC State won five races, setting two records in relays and winning three individual championships. The last Pack swimmer to win a national title was Olympic gold medalist Cullen Jones in 2006. As senior Anton Ipsen, one of the indi- vidual champions, noted, "The top five to six teams were so good, so far ahead of the rest of the field. These teams are elite on a world-class level. They have transcended the college system. "You are getting the best not in just the U.S., but the whole world." NC State actually accumulated the sec- ond most swimming points behind Califor- nia, but Texas won the meet on the strength of its divers, with Indiana getting past the Wolfpack into third. The meet started in similar fashion to last year, with the foursome of junior Andreas Vazaios, senior Ryan Held, junior Jacob Molacek and junior Justin Ress crushing the field in the 800 free relay and in the process breaking its own U.S. Open (for- PILING UP THE TROPHIES Men's Swimming And Diving Wins Five National Titles And Takes Fourth Overall At The NCAA Championships C H A M P I O N S