Knowles Wins 500 Free on Day Two of ACC Championships

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Wolfpack sophomore Eric Knowles won the conference title in the 500-yard freestyle to highlight a total of four podium finishes for the NC State men on the second day of action at the ACC Championships.

Through two days of action at the conference meet, the Wolfpack men stand in first place with 496.5 points. NC State has medaled a total of six times in the early stages of the conference championship, including Knowles' gold on Thursday evening and the Pack's 200-yard medley relay victory that opened the meet on Wednesday evening.

500 FREE:
Knowles secured NC State's fifth straight conference title in the event as he clocked back-to-back lifetime bests during the prelims and the finals. After going 4:13.79 for the fastest time in the prelims, Knowles went on to record an NCAA A cut with a 4:12.13 to win gold in the event, the first ACC title of his career.

In addition to the win, Knowles moved to second in program history in the event with his time.

Also swimming in the A final, Jack McIntyre touched the wall in a personal-best 4:15.62, and Gil Kiesler took seventh place in 4:18.18 after dropping almost six seconds in the morning prelims to reach the final.

Danny Erlenmeyer and Zach Brown rounded out the scorers for the Wolfpack in the 500-yard freestyle. Both Pack men dropped time in the prelims to qualify for the B final, where Erlenmeyer clocked in at 4:18.68 to place 14th overall and Brown touched the wall in 4:21.54 to finish 15th.

200 IM:
Andreas Vazaios finished on the podium in the 200-yard individual medley for the third season in a row as he took second place. The Wolfpack senior won silver in the event with an NCAA A cut of 1:41.30, just .02 seconds behind the first-place finisher.

Jacob Molacek represented the Pack men in the B final, where he clocked in at 1:44.17 for 10th overall.

50 FREE:
NC State saw four of its men advance to the A final in the 50-yard freestyle, where Justin Ress led the way by taking third place in 19.29.

Nyls Korstanje finished just off the podium in the first A final of his Wolfpack career, placing fourth in 19.37. Giovanni Izzo clocked a season-best 19.45 to touch the wall sixth, and Cobe Garcia completed the Pack's field of A finalists with a tie for seventh place in 19.47.

Mark McGlaughlin also posted points for the Wolfpack in the B final with a 19.79 for 14th overall.

200 FREE RELAY:
The Pack capped off its evening with a podium finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay. Korstanje, Ress, Molacek and Coleman Stewart clocked in at 1:16.00 to take home silver in the event.

UP NEXT:
The Pack will return to the pool on Friday for its third day of competition at the ACC Championships. Prelims are set for a 10 a.m. start, and the finals will be contested beginning at 6 p.m. Friday's finals session will once again be broadcast live on the ACC Network Extra.

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Knowles Wins 500 Free on Day Two of ACC Championships

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Players Mentioned

Zach Brown

Danny Erlenmeyer

Cobe Garcia

Giovanni Izzo

Gil Kiesler

Eric Knowles

Nyls Korstanje

Mark McGlaughlin

Jack McIntyre

Jacob Molacek

Justin Ress

Coleman Stewart

Andreas Vazaios