Competing against some of the best in the nation, NC State swimming and diving competed in the inaugural Eddie Reese Texas Showdown, a quad meet featuring Texas, Virginia, and Arizona State. The men’s and women’s teams each went 1-2 in the event.
The meet showcased the high profile of NC State’s swimming and diving program, with the top-ranked teams in both the men’s and women’s competitions competing in front of a crowd of over 2,000.
On the men’s side, the No. 6 Wolfpack earned a 226-115 ranked win over No. 18 Virginia, leaving no doubt who the better side was. However, the red-and-white took a 224.50-107.50 loss to No. 1 Texas and a 220.50-131.50 defeat to No. 4 Arizona State.
The Wolfpack’s best showing on the men’s side came in the 1650 freestyle where junior Lance Norris earned a second-place finish with a time of 14:39.42. The impressive finish also made history as it was the Pack’s all-time fifth-best time in the event.
In his first appearance for NC State, freshman Sasha Zheltiakov made a splash for the Pack. The Ukrainian swimmer posted the ninth-best time in program history in the 200-meter backstroke, finishing in 1:40.66. While the Wolfpack is already competing at a high level, adding a talent like Zheltiakov should only improve NC State’s results moving forward.
Meanwhile, on the women’s side, No. 8 NC State also went 1-2 during the quad meet. The red-and-white topped Arizona State for a 213-139 victory. It then fell to No. 1 Virginia and No. 2 Texas, gaining valuable experience against the best at the collegiate level.
The Wolfpack’s best performer of the weekend was freshman Leah Shackley. The rising star shined especially in backstroke, where she recorded a pair of second-place finishes in the 100 and 200-meter races. Shackley earned two other podium finishes in the 100-meter fly and 400-medley events.
Freshman Lisa Nystrand also showed up with one of her best performances of the season. Nystrand had a time of 2:08.42 in the 200-meter breaststroke — the sixth-best time in program history. Nystrand wasn’t finished recording historic times as she also earned the seventh-best time in the 400 IM, clocking in at an impressive 4:07.94. Despite only being a freshman, Nystrand is certainly emerging as one of the Wolfpack’s best this season.
Finally, junior Kennedy Noble also posted impressive finishes. The All-American posted three third-place finishes throughout the weekend in the 200 IM, 100-meter backstroke and 400 medley. With fast times across the board, Noble showcased her versatility across all types of events.
Next up, NC State will return home for an in-state meet against UNC Wilmington at the Willis R. Casey Aquatic Center on Friday, with coverage on ACC Network Extra.
