Nonrevenue sports at NC State have long taken a backseat to the Wolfpack’s “big three” of football, men’s basketball and baseball.
Wolfpack fandom is dominated by Saturdays at Carter-Finley Stadium, weeknight matchups against ACC rivals in PNC Arena and Sunday matinees under the bright sun at Doak Field.
There is no denying the great appeal of NC State football, which boasts one of the most electric stadium atmospheres in the country; NC State basketball, which has two national championships to its name; and NC State baseball, which is a College World Series contender every year.
However, NC State’s nonrevenue sports have been excellent the last few years. In just the 2017-18 school year alone, the wrestling and men’s swimming and diving teams finished their seasons ranked No. 4 overall, the cheerleading team won a national championship, the women’s basketball team advanced to the Sweet 16 and seven other teams (rifle, men’s cross country, women’s swimming and diving, women’s gymnastics, women’s soccer and men’s basketball) finished their respective seasons ranked inside the Top 25.
And yet, when you go to a women’s basketball game in the historic Reynolds Coliseum, or a swim meet or a soccer match, you’d think it was a high school event you were watching.
This needs to change; NC State Athletics is not a three-trick pony.
NC State fans are constantly ridiculed for rooting for teams that are considered the “little brothers” of rivals UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke.
When NC State beats UNC or Duke in football or basketball (which, by the way, happened three times in 2017-18), Wolfpack fans know to expect the “Well you guys aren’t our rivals” banter from Tar Heels and Blue Devils fans.
Well, newsflash: NC State has more than three athletics programs.
Just this past season, the NC State women’s basketball team knocked off both UNC and Duke on its way to the final four of the ACC Tournament.
The Wolfpack is competitive, and excellent, in more than just football, men’s basketball and baseball.
Next time you’re heading back to your dorm after grabbing dinner from Fountain Dining Hall or showering after playing some pickup hoops at Carmichael Gym, take a second and check the GoPack website to see what teams are in action.
If the wrestling team, which is 51-5 in its last three seasons, has a match in Reynolds Coliseum, go grab your friends and take in the action.
If the women’s basketball team, which came just a few points shy of knocking off No. 1 Louisville in the ACC Tournament, has a night game, go pack the arena and cheer on the Wolfpack.
If the women’s gymnastics team, which got to host an NCAA Regional this past year and boasts some of the best athletes in the state, has a meet, get up and go watch; you won’t regret it.
