The N.C. State women and men’s swimming and diving teams returned to action Wednesday at home in the Willis R. Casey Aquatic Center against the No. 17-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies. The women’s team defeated the Hokies 160-140 and the men’s team secured the school’s first-ever tie, with both schools tallying 150 points.
In the opening events, both the men and women won their 200 medley relays. The men, featuring juniors Ian Bishop, Jonathan Boffa, Barrett Miesfeld and senior Ivan Kopas, barely nicked out the victory, edging out the Hokies quartet by only 1/100th of a second- with the Pack finishing at 1:29.54.
The women were led by freshman Riki Bonnema, sophomores Lauren Poli and Hannah Freyman and junior Zina Grogg. They eased past their opponents from Blacksburg, finishing with a time of 1:43.21.
The Pack was buoyed by the results early in the meet.
“Not only was it a win, but it set the tone for the meet,” head coach Braden Holloway said. “It created momentum for our team to build on throughout the meet.”
The women’s team was in complete control during 50 meter freestyle. Senior Marifrances Henley was the pacesetter for State, finishing in first place with a time of 23.79. Freyman and Bonnema also rounded out the top-three, at 23.92 and 24.05 respectively.
In the 100 freestyle, the Pack men and women stole the top spots. Boffa was the winner in the men’s competition, with a time of 44.01. Freyman at 51.52 seconds took the top-spot for the women.
Junior Matt Thomas was the men’s winner in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:39.60. Senior Julianna Prim completed the State sweep in the event with a winning time of 1:50.43
“Most of the heats were so close that it really came down to getting your hand to the wall first,” Holloway said. “I think we did a pretty good job of that today.”
Senior Hudson Rains was a winner in the three-meter diving competition, scoring 343.95 and sophomore Rachel Mumma finished first for the women on the one-meter diving meet with a tally of 282.12.
The men’s team trailed by 13 heading into the 400 freestyle relay, the final event of the evening.
The Pack was able to come through with flying colors. Miesfeld and Thomas, along with senior Brandon Kingston and sophomore David Williams were the winners with a time of 3:00.12. Boffa, along with freshman Jason Deana, senior Joe Martin, and sophomore Gerald Woody placed in second at 3:01.76, ensuring State would not lose.
“In the last relay, our men’s team had to get first and second to tie,” Holloway said. “I split the relays so that they would be balanced to put us in a position to finish first and second, and it worked. I was real happy with the way we competed.”
State returns to action this weekend at home in the Willis R. Casey Natatorium. The Pack will compete Saturday against ACC foes Florida State and Georgia Tech. The meet begins at 11 a.m.
