N.C.State Wolfpack Leads All-North Carolina Invite After Day One

GREENSBORO, North Carolina, October 5. THE NC State swimming & diving team opened the season on Friday with an impressive showing at the All-North Carolina Invitational, hosted by the Wolfpack at the Greensboro Aquatic Center. At the conclusion of day one, the men's and women's teams lead their respective divisions by considerable margins.

“We had a solid first day,” said head coach Braden Holloway. “The team came out with alot of passion and energy, so its important to channel all that energy and excitement in the right way.”

The Wofpack women's team started the day's action in the 200 freestyle relay, with two of the Pack's relay teams finishing first and second. Junior Zina Grogg, sophomore Lauren Poli, along with freshmen Riki Bonnema and Mariah Hamil claimed the top spot in the event with a time of 1:34.11. The men's team registered second and third place finishes in the event. The relay team composed of senior Joe Martin, junior Matt Thomas, sophomore David Williams, and freshman Simonas Bilis posted a time of 1:22.36, just hundredths of a second shy of the top time.

Freshman Kristin Connors cruised in her heat of the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:59.49, which was the second fastest time in the event. On the men's side, another freshman posted the top time for the Pack as Louis Wojciechowski finished with a time of 4:35.42 claiming second place.

“I think they wanted to prove themselves to the team and to the staff,” Holloway said of the performances by the freshmen. “They've been training really hard and a lot of the things we are doing are new to them, but I think they are excited to get their first college meet under their belt.”
Nicole Giamber, a freshman from Cary, N.C., made her debut in the water in grand style swimming the fastest time (2:08.61) in the 200 individual medley. Senior Taylor Harris swam a time of 1:54.78, which was good for third place.

Grogg, senior Allison Hendren, and Poli finished second, third, and fourth, respectively in the 50 freestyle to highlight the Pack's performance in the event. The Wolfpack swimmers finished two hundreths of a second apart with Grogg at 24.04, Hendren 24.06, and Poli 24.08. Martin and sophomore Gerard Woody represented the top times for the Pack on the men's side at 20.78 and 21.04, respectively.

The last event of the evening for the Pack was the 400 medley relay. Senior Ivan Kopas, juniors Jonathan Boffa and Jake Matysek, teamed up with freshman Christian McCurdy to claim the title in the event with a blazing quick time of 3:21.01, a full two seconds ahead of the next closest relay team. On the women's side, senior Julianna Prim, along with sophomores Hannah Freyman, Poli, and Siri Smits finished second at 3:51.38.

The action will resume on Saturday, Oct. 6 at 10 a.m.

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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