The NC State swimming & diving team returned to action on Saturday afternoon against University of Georgia for its first meet of the new year. The men’s squad was edged by the 10th-ranked Bulldogs, 156-142, while the women’s team was defeated by the reigning NCAA Champion and 4th-ranked Georgia squad, 186-113.
“We battled today against Georgia,” said head coach Braden Holloway. “I was impressed with our team atmosphere on the deck and our willingness to race a very good team in Georgia.”
Overall, State captured first-place in 10 individual events and three relays.
“We had more of a team effort today,” Holloway said. “We had some new people step up and help us take another step forward as a program.”
The meet began with the team of Andreas Schiellerup, Ian Bishop, Barrett Miesfeld and Jonathan Boffa earning a first-place finish with a time of 1:28.46 in the men’s 200-yard medley relay. On the women’s side, two of the Wolfpack women’s 200-medley relay teams finished second and third, respectively. The team of Zina Grogg, Lauren Poli, Ashlyn Koletic and Lotta Nevalainen led the way for the squad in the event with a second-place finish and a time of 1:42.05.
In the women’s 200 butterfly, Lydia Jones posted a first-place finish for the Pack with a time of 2:01.66, while fellow freshman Natalie Labonge won the 100 freestyle with a time of 51.49.
“I was really happy with how well some of our freshmen did,” Holloway stated. “Lydia (Jones) winning the 200 fly and Natalie (Labonge) winning the 100 free was big.”
Poli won the women’s 50 freestyle, tapping the wall in 23.28, while Koletic finished third with a time of 23.47.
Grogg and freshman Alexia Zevnik posted a one-two finish in the women’s 100 backstroke. Grogg took home top honors with a time of 55.38, while Zevnik tapped the wall in 56.32.
“I think the women have taken some steps forward,” Holloway said.
In diving, freshman Grant Saale captured top honors in the one-meter competition with a score of 292.80, as well as second-place in the three-meter competition with a score of 290.40. Madeline Keeley finished with a score of 252.95 in the women’s three-meter diving competition, while Gabrielle McDermott posted a score of 182.70.
“Grant (Saale) winning the one-meter was a huge win for us on the diving board.”
On the men’s side, Boffa finished with a time of 1:38.59 in the men’s 200 freestyle and captured first-place in the event. Seniors David Williams (1:40.23) and Miesfeld (1:40.23) also posted strong performances, as they tied for third.
In addition, Boffa captured top honors in the 100 freestyle with a time of 44.37, while Simonas Bilis finished second with a 44.95 clocking.
Junior Stephen Coetzer captured first-place honors in the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:48.73, while Bilis posted a time of 20.35 in the 50 freestyle for top individual honors.
State concluded the meet by claiming first-place in the men’s and women’s 400 freestyle relays. On the women’s side, Labonge, Zevnik, Nevalainen and Hannah Freyman teamed up with a time of 3:24.49, while the quartet of Boffa, Miesfeld, Williams and Bilis cruised to victory in 2:58.23.
“We still have some work to do, but we'll continue to get better and get ready for our next meet against Villanova,” Holloway said. “Georgia was a great host and it was just a good meet.”
State will return to competition against Villanova on Friday, Jan. 10 at 5 p.m.
