The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1285691
18 ■ THE WOLFPACKER QUOTING THE PACK Katharine Berkoff, Women's Swimming The sophomore from Missoula, Mont., coming off a stellar rookie campaign for the Wolfpack, was one of two current NC State swimmers to be named to the 2020-21 USA Swimming National Team. Berkoff qualified in the 100-meter back- stroke, a race she won at the 2019 World University Games. As a freshman at NC State, Berkoff cap- tured the ACC championship in the 100-yard backstroke, and was named an All-American in both the 100- and 200-yard backstroke races. Nick Gwiazdowski, Wrestling Participating in the main event for a new organization called Wrestling Under- ground, Gwiazdowski defeated former Iowa State three-time All-American and national champion Kyven Gadson with a 10-0 tech fall just 2:43 into the match. Gwiazdowski, who was a two-time na- tional champion and three-time NCAA finalist at NC State, is the top-ranked wrestler in the United States at 125 kilograms and the favorite to represent America at that weight in the 2021 Olympics. Former Pack All-American Tommy Gantt also com- peted in the event, but lost to former Virginia Tech three-time All-American David McFadden. Tziarra King, Women's Soccer King added to her legacy as one of the greatest Wolfpack women's soccer play- ers of all time by being one of two ACC nominees for the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year Award. King was the program's first-ever ACC Women's Soccer Scholar- Athlete of the Year after graduating in December with a 3.979 grade-point average and a degree in nutrition science. She was the eighth overall pick in the first round of the National Women's Soccer League Draft in Janu- ary, selected by the Utah Royals FC, and scored a goal in her career debut for them. Kent Klyman, Baseball Taking advantage of the NCAA's deci- sion to allow spring athletes to retain the year of eligibility after sports were stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Klyman is returning to NC State. The Wil- liamsburg, Va., native was one of four se- niors on the 2020 team but the only one that decided to come back. Klyman owns a career earned-run average of 2.53 in 77 relief appearances and had solidified himself as the Pack's closer in 2020. In five games before the season was canceled, Klyman had a 1.42 ERA and two saves. He is a two-time National College Baseball Writers' Associa- tion Stopper of the Year watch list member. PACK PERFORMERS TRACKING THE PACK "It definitely pushes me just for the simple fact that they did it, why can't I? That is my mindset going into this thing. … How can I not [succeed]? That's my mindset when I hit the field or am in the film room — 'They did it, I can too.' There is no limit to what I can do." — Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Justin Jones on the NFL success of his former NC State defensive line teammates Bradley Chubb (Denver Broncos), B.J. Hill (New York Gi- ants) and Kentavius Street (San Francisco 49ers) "The Pack love to play fast, they love to pressure and they like to do so with athletic guards who can attack in transition or go and make something out of nothing in a late shot-clock situation. Smith is all about those things. A big-time athlete, he can be a little out of control at times, but his aggressive nature, developing jump shot and the upside he has once he grows into his body make him a great fit. His stock has been rising." — Ri- vals.com national basketball recruiting analyst Eric Bossi on listing 2021 NC State pledge Terquavion Smith of Farmville, N.C., among his 10 commits who are the best fits with their college choices "We know our fans are going to be disappointed and our players are going to be disappointed, really everyone involved. We want the band on the field marching out, we want the cheerleaders there and we want everything back to how it's been in the past. At this point in time, we've been prepared for any scenario and had been thinking through these sce - narios. Hopefully sometime later this fall we'll be able to get some people in there. "The good thing for us is we created a Preserve The Pack fund for people to be able to donate their season tickets to the Wolfpack Club to help us there or be able to move their tickets forward to pay for their 2021 tickets. We've had great success from our incredibly passionate fan base. It's really stepped up and it's really going to help us get through '21." — NC State director of athletics BOO CORRIGAN on the Packer and Durham show on ACC Network about the decision to have no fans at sporting events through the month of September PHOTO BY ROGER WINSTEAD