North Carolina State University Athletics
Swimming and Diving Hosts Virginia Tech on Friday
10/27/2005 12:00:00 AM | Swimming
Oct. 27, 2005
RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State men's and women's swimming and diving will host Virginia Tech to open the home season. The Wolfpack men and women come into the meet with identical 2-0 overall and 1-0 marks in the ACC. Both squads fell to the Hokies in Blacksburg, Va. as the men lost by a close 132-111 margin and the women fell 144-99. The meet will be held at the Casey Aquatic Center on NC State's campus at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28.
NC State Hosts Virginia Tech, Friday Oct. 28 at 5 p.m.
The men's and women's swimming and diving squads return to the pool looking to remain undefeated. Both teams stand at 2-0 overall and 1-0 in the ACC and will host conference foe Virginia Tech on Friday, Oct. 28 at 5 p.m. The meet will be held on NC State's campus at the Casey Natatorium adjacent to Carmichael Gymnasium and is the first home meet of the season. Admission is free, so come out and support Wolfpack swimming and diving on Homecoming weekend.
Wolfpack Kicked Off Season at Duke With Sweep
The NC State men's and women's swimming and diving teams posted a strong opening performance against Duke and William & Mary to open the 2005-06 season. Combined, the Wolfpack men and women won 19 of the 26 events to sweep the meet which was hosted by Duke.
The men won easily against Duke with an impressive 161-77 score, and pounded William & Mary 170-66, winning 11 of the 13 events. In the final two events (the 200 breaststroke and the 400 freestyle relay, NC State swam exhibition times only, but posted the top time in both for an impressive sweep. Steven Cowling won two events for NC State (200 backstroke and 200 freestyle) and swam the leadoff backstroke leg of the 400 medley relay that placed first in the meet. Eight other Wolfpack swimmers won an event at the meet.
Lindsay Barwegen, Molly Culberson and Kerry Whitson did their part in helping the women move to 2-0, as each won two events. As a team, the women won eight of the 13 events and had 15 top-three finishes.
Freshmen Make Impact
Eight freshman men and seven freshman women saw their first collegiate action, with three men and one women winning an event. Lucy Lindsey showed her competitiveness as a racer, winning the 100 freestyle with a time of 53.68. On the men's side, Andrew Lester won the 1,000 freestyle and his time of 9:26.03 currently ranks fifth in the ACC. Two male divers stood out, as Austin Hampton won the 1-meter competition and Alexander Dambly won the 3-meter. Peter Ranstead, a senior transfer making his first appearance for NC State, won the 50 freestyle with a 20.93, third in the conference.
Pack Swimmers In ACC Standings
MEN: Peter Ranstead - 50 free (20.93; 3rd), 100 free (46.61; 9th); Andrew Lester - 1000 Freestyle (9:26.03; 5th); Dan Velez - 200 breaststroke (2:07.91; 8th); Austin Hampton - 1-meter (318.22; 1st), 3-meter (301.63; 5th); Alexander Dambly - 3-meter (309.52; 3rd), 1-meter (296.70; 5th)
WOMEN: Lindsay Barwegen - 1000 free (10:12.04; 4th); 200 butterfly (2:06.88; 7th); Jessica Koenig - 200 IM (2:07.72; 7th); Molly Culberson - 3-meter (316.70; 1st); 1-meter (305.10; 2nd)
Ranstead Impressive in Debut
Though far removed from his freshman year at Tampa and his time at Iowa, Peter Ranstead is finally back in the pool and NC State couldn't be happier. The transfer had to sit out last season because of NCAA policy, but was able to swim impressive times in time trials during the season, including a NCAA top-100 time in the 50 freestyle. In his first collegiate meet for NC State, Ranstead won the 50 free with a 20.93, the third best time in the ACC thus far this season. His 49.61 was good for second place (behind two-time all-American Cullen Jones) in the 100 free and ranks in the top-10 of the conference.
Divers Dominate
Having standout divers has never been surprising for the NC State swimming and diving team, but this season could be one of the strongest groups to ever enter the pool. On the women's side you can count on school record holder and NCAA Championship participant Molly Culberson for strong finishes at each meet. She won both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving competitions against Duke and William & Mary, and has led the Wolfpack the past two season in first place finishes.
On the men's side, NC State and head diving coach Mike Finneran could have the strongest group in a number of years. Austin Hampton won the 1-meter competition, with his score automatically qualifying him for the NCAA Zone Diving Championship. He finished second in the 3-meter to teammate Alexander Dambly. A third freshmen, Scott Blackwelder, finished fourth in both events and will be a factor this season as well.
