Rising senior Stephen Coetzer of the N.C. State swimming & diving program captured the 100 backstroke on Friday at the South African Short Course National Championships.
“Winning a South African National Title means the world to me,” Coetzer said. “I couldn’t have done it without the help of my primary coach Braden Holloway. Along with helping me grow physically, he has helped me develop a strong mental approach to swimming.”
A dual citizen between the United States and South Africa, Coetzer captured the national title with a finals time of 53.31. He advanced to the finals after recording the fastest time among 48 swimmers in the preliminaries with a 53.73.
The win for Coetzer is his first national title for South Africa and solidifies his spot on the South African National Team at the 2014 Short Course World Championships, which is set to take place in Qatar in December.
The rising senior will also compete in the 200 individual medley, as well as the 200 back. The South African Short Course National Championships will continue through Aug. 10.
Last season, Coetzer earned a silver medalist at the ACC Championships in the 200 back and also finished All-ACC in the 200 IM.
The Wolfpack swimming & diving program will open its 2014-15 campaign at the All-North Carolina Invitational which will take place Oct. 3-4 at the Greensboro Aquatic Center in Greensboro, N.C.
