Raleigh, NC – A battle is underway at Casey Aquatic Center, as the 8th-ranked North Carolina State men (latest CCSA poll) and 16th-ranked North Carolina State women (as of Jan. 15th) welcome the Minnesota Gophers into their home this weekend. The two-day meet started off right for the Wolfpack, as they currently lead the Gophers in both the men’s and women’s meets. But, with Minnesota being ranked 23rd and 11th for the men and women, respectively (CCSA polls), the meet certainly is not a done deal after just the first twenty events.
Meet Scores After Day One
Women – North Carolina State 106.0, Minnesota – 80.0
Men – North Carolina State 125.0, Minnesota – 60.0
Day One Meet Results Available Here
Women’s Meet
The North Carolina State women did some major points damage by winning both the opening and closing relays tonight. The Wolfpack’s 200y freestyle relay clocked a 1:30.23, while the 400y medley relay squad charged to a first-place finish in 3:40.18.
The Wolfpack women saw two of its swimmers earn NCAA “B” cuts in the form of Alexia Zevnik‘s 53.47 winning time in the 100y backstroke and Riki Boonema’s 22.74 top finish in the splash and dash freestyle. Kayla Brumbaum also earned a “B” cut, but her 1:02.42 100y breaststroke time could not fend off Minnesota breaststroking powerhouse, Kierra Smith, who cleared the field in a “B” cut of her own in 1:02.12.
The Gopher women saw additional individual wins tonight in the 1000y freestyle, as Kiera Janzen was the only swimmer under the 10:00 mark, finishing first in 9:52.86. Jessica Plant also got her job done in the 200y freestyle with a solid time of 1:48.27.
The women’s 200y IM event was the closest finish of the meet, as the top four swimmers all touched the wall within three tenths of each other. Alexia Zevnik earned another Wolfpack win tonight, narrowly scoring first place in a time of 2:02.09. Minnesota’s Brooke Zeiger came in second by just four one-hundredths, most likely foreshadowing additional tight races on the schedule tomorrow as the women continue their competition.
Men’s Meet
The Wolfpack men displayed major dominance tonight, as they started the meet off with a lightening fast time in the 200y freestyle relay. Simonas Bilis, Ryan Held, Andreas Scheillerup, and David Williams combined for a swift 1:18.58 to lock in the eighth-fastest time in the country.
Bilis went on to score more Wolfpack points in the 50y freestyle, touching the wall in 19.88, while teammate Soeren Dahl raked in a first place finish the 200y freestyles. For Minnesota, recent U.S. Naval Academy transfer, Michael Nunan, was able to nab second in the 200 free to put some points in the Gophers’ column.
Derek Hren swam an NCAA “B” cut-clearing time of 54.52 in the 100y breaststroke, while Stephen Coetzer was the only swimmer under 1:50 with his “B” cut time of 1:48.29.
The highlight of the night was a tremendous effort by Wolfpack freshman, Anton Ipsen, who certainly made an NC STATE-ment in his 1000y freestyle swim. His time of 8:58.92 surpassed his previous personal best and also now ranks him as the second-fastest in the country. Ipsen‘s swim additionally broke the Casey Aquatic Center pool record.
The meet resumes tomorrow at 9 am Eastern.