The men’s swimming and diving program has a rich tradition. The team is reminded of this every time it holds a meet its home facility, the Willis Casey Aquatics Center.

It is named after the legendary coach that never had a losing season during his 22-year tenure, making the program an ACC powerhouse.

But N.C. State struggled last season, placing seventh at the ACC championships. According to coach Brooks Teal, the team will open competition this Saturday at East Carolina, aiming to avenge its disappointing showing last year.

“We definitely felt like that was not indicative of the quality of the team we had,” Teal said.

“Most of our points were in our freshman and sophomore class. Now those folks are going to be sophomores and juniors. We really expect that experience and maturity to pay off.”

The Wolfpack competed for the first time Friday at its annual Red v. White meet, hoping its hard work would renew the program’s traditional success.

Based on the performances he witnessed, Teal said State should have a legitimate shot at challenging for a top spot in the conference.

“Their commitment to getting better over the summertime was evident,” Teal said. “They didn’t look like the team that’s in the early stages of getting in shape. They looked fit, ready to go, ready to race.”

First-year diving coach Ted Hautau emphasized conditioning during the offseason, which is something he said the team’s three junior divers had not experienced in the past. Austin Hampton, the team’s lone diving All-ACC selection last season, said the divers all have the potential to make a mark this year.

“With Ted, we’re going to be improving so much – Scott, Alex and myself,” Hampton said.

Teal said the team’s strongest events this season will be the individual medley, the backstrokes and the breaststrokes.

Stephen Mellor is the Pack’s top returnee in two of those events. The red-shirt junior, who is a captain, placed in the 200 and 400 IM and the 200 backstroke at the ACC championships last season, and he said he has high expectations for himself this year.

“Every single race I’m doing this year, I’m planning to win it,” Mellor said. “If I can go undefeated, then it’s a huge positive for myself. Every win that I get is a huge positive for the team.”

Senior Jack Roney leads a group of breaststrokers that should see a lot of success this season, according to senior captain Brian Crowder.

“We probably have the deepest breaststroke in the ACC,” Crowder said. “We’ve got the potential to get three people in the top eight, if not more.”

One of the members of that group, freshman Dan Forsythe, said the team’s camaraderie has eased his transition into college competition.

“The team atmosphere is pretty cool,” he said. “Everyone gets along, and that makes it fun.”

On Saturday, Forsythe, along with the other freshmen, will partake in a tradition unique to State’s program. According to Crowder, learning the significance of the tradition was the best memory he has had as a Pack swimmer.

“Every meet we put a dime on our left chest,” Crowder said. “It stands for something that no one knows unless you’ve been a member of the N.C. State swim team. Steve and I have the honor, as captains, of telling the freshmen at the ECU meet next Saturday. There’s no other feeling like that. Your adrenaline is pumping so much, that’ll be your best time of the year.”

State starts this season having lost only one swimmer – Steve Cowling – to graduation as it looks to re-establish the success Casey had.

“There’s so much tradition with this guys’ team,” Mellor said. “Success through the 60s and 70s is something we’re always going to be proud of here. It’s something that we’re working towards right now. These cheers and these rituals that we do as a guys’ team were established back then.”

Although the Pack struggled last season, it is a program that won at least a share of 20 ACC championships from 1961-1985.

But success has not been limited to the past. Former swimmer Cullen Jones captured a national championship in 2006, and Mellor holds the school record in the 200 backstroke.

“It’s great to be a part of it and know that our names, the guys that are here right now, are being written into N.C. State history for many years to come,” Mellor said.

“We’re going to always be able to say we’re N.C. State swimmers. It’s just a great place to swim.”