North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State Breaks Two ACC Records, Garners Seven All-America Honors
3/24/2023 10:36:00 PM | Swimming
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. — The Wolfpack men added five podium finishes to the 2023 NCAA Championships tally as senior Kacper Stokowski took second place in the 100-yard backstroke, the trio of Aiden Hayes, Nyls Korstanje, and Stokowski finished in sixth, seventh, and eighth in the 100-yard butterfly, and the Pack's 400-yard medley relay took fourth place in the event Friday evening.
In addition to those podium finishes, NC State saw two other individuals garner Honorable Mention All-America honors as Giovanni Izzo and Arsenio Bustos represented the Pack in the Consolation Finals.
NC State heads into the final day of the national meet in sixth place with 246.5 points in a tight field. California (315 points), Arizona State (302 points), Texas (292 points), Indiana (259 points), and Florida (251 points) hold the top five spots going into Saturday's sessions.
100-yard backstroke
After swimming in the Championship Final of the 100-yard butterfly less than an hour before, senior Kacper Stokowski became the fastest performer in conference and school history in the 100-yard backstroke. His time of 43.86 seconds broke the 44 second barrier for the first time, garnering National Runner-Up honors. The former records were set by NC State standout performer Coleman Stewart at the same meet in 2019.Â
Joining Stokowski in the night's session was fifth-year Giovanni Izzo. Posting a lifetime best performance in prelims, Izzo came back even faster in the night's Consolation Final to take 11th (45.03) for his last time representing the Wolfpack. Senior Hunter Tapp finished in 28th place during prelims (46.05).Â
100-yard butterfly
NC State stacked the final of the 100-yard butterfly, putting three in the Championship Final and one in the Consolation Final to pick up much-needed points for the Pack. Aiden Hayes led the way for the Pack, going 44.40 for sixth place. The time moves the sophomore up to No. 2 in program history. Right behind were Nyls Korstanje (44.86) and Kacper Stokowski (48.27) with seventh and eighth place finishes.
Arsenio Bustos moved from a 16th seed from prelims to finish 11th overall with a lifetime best time of 44.89, while Noah Henderson just missed a chance for a second swim with his prelims time of 45.57 for 20th.Â
100-yard breaststroke
Fifth-year Mason Hunter posted a prelims time just over his best time to finish just out of the final in 19th place. 51.88
200-yard freestyle
All competing in the morning's prelims session, Luke Miller, Bartosz Piszczorowicz, and Noah Bowers finished 17th (1:32.68, Miller), 21st (1:33.05, Piszczorowicz), and 28th (1:33.31, Bowers), respectively.Â
400-yard IM
After watching the meet from the stands last season, Owen Miller competed in his first NCAA Championships race, finishing 25th overall with a time of 3:43.56.
3-meter springboard
Renato Calderaro competed in his last event of the week, finishing 33rd on the three-meter board with 326.05 points.
400-yard medley relay
NC State capped off another finals session by taking fourth place in the 400-yard medley relay. Stokowski, swimming his fifth 100 of the day, bettered the ACC record set in his individual 100-yard backstroke earlier in the session by going 43.83 seconds. Mason Hunter split 51.20, Aiden Hayes posted a quick 43.95 second butterfly leg, and Luke Miller brought the team home in 41.24. The fourth place finish set new ACC and program records in the event.
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NC State will wrap up its season with a final day of action at the 2023 NCAA Championships on Saturday. Prelims will begin at 10 a.m. CST and will be broadcast on ESPN+. The early heats of the 1650-yard freestyle will be raced beginning late afternoon and the last finals session is set to start at 6 p.m. CST.Â
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