Wolfpack Bring Two Midseason Victories Back to Raleigh

Thursday, November 20

Greensboro, NC

Prelims: 9:30 a.m. | Finals: 5:30 P.M.

NC State

Wolfpack Elite GAC Invite

Hudson Williams Wolfpack Elite Invite 2025

Wolfpack Bring Two Midseason Victories Back to Raleigh

11/22/2025 11:40:00 PM | Swimming

GREENSBORO, N.C. - The NC State Wolfpack swim team closed out its last competition of 2025, hosting seven teams at the annual Wolfpack Elite Invite. After three days of competitive midseason action at the Greensboro Aquatic Center, the Pack returns to Raleigh with two team victories and plenty of momentum heading into the remainder of the season

The Wolfpack came out on top finishing first after posting a combine score of 3546.50, 2nd Auburn 2946.50, 3rd Arizona 1921.50, 4th Virginia Tech 1882.50, 5th Duke 1711, 6th BYU 1530, 7th George Washington 970, and finally 8th Army with 750 combine points.

The Wolfpack Women earned its 3rd win of the season remaining undefeated after posting a final score of 1781.50, followed by 2nd place Auburn with 1579.50, then 3rd Duke University 1038, 4th Arizona, 884.50, 5th Virginia Tech 883.50, 6th BYU 582, 7th George Washington 489, then rounding out the competition with 8th Army at 417.

The Wolfpack Men saw the same outcome coming out on top over Auburn with a final score of 1765, followed by 2nd Auburn 1367, 3rd Arizona 1037, 4th Virginia Tech 999, 5th BYU 948, 6th Duke 673, 7th George Washington 481, and 8th Army at 333 points.

Over the course of three days, the Wolfpack delivered a dominant midseason showing, earning 15 top seeds heading into finals, producing 128 A-finalists, securing 24 event victories, and notching three podium sweeps. In addition, 12 athletes climbed the program's all-time top-10 lists, marking one of the team's strongest collective performances at a midseason event.

Starting things off in Thursday's prelims, the Pack had 21 athletes competing in the A-final, with five of them earning top seeds heading into the finals! Junior Tyler Driscoll posted a strong performance in the 100 butterfly, clocking a 52.19, good for the 7th-fastest time in school history. Drew Salls added to the momentum by recording the 10th-fastest 50 butterfly time in program history, swimming a 20.90 on the opening leg of his 100 butterfly. Overall, 21 athletes out of 64 advanced to the A-finals on the first day of prelims with five of them earning top-seeds.

The Wolfpack stormed into finals with a dominant opening, sweeping the 200 medley relay on the women's side. Coming off of a relay victory, sophomore Leah Shackley cruised her way to a victory in the 100 fly, behind her, teammates Kennedy Noble, and Tyler Driscoll both etched their names in the top-10 list with Noble clocking the 8th fastest time, and Driscoll clocking the 9th fastest time in program history. Kaii Winkler delivered a highlight of the session, winning the 200 freestyle in 1:32.14, the 5th-fastest time in school history. Eneli Jefimova continued the momentum by breaking her own personal record to earn the 2nd-fastest 100 breast time in program history, and the Wolfpack women closed out day one with a 1:26.75 in the 200 freestyle relay, surpassing their time recorded at NCAA's of 1:26.82.

Heading into the second day of competition, the Wolfpack continued to showcase their depth and speed. Hudson Williams earned the top seed in the 100 backstroke with a 44.65, the 5th-fastest time in program history. On the women's side, Leah Shackley matched that excellence by claiming the top seed in the 100 backstroke with a strong swim of 50.78. Freshman Ian Stutts impressed out of heat three, securing the No. 2 seed for finals with a 1:55.14, the 6th-fastest 200 breaststroke time in school history. In the sprint events, Cassie Moses posted a 21.95, marking the 9th-fastest 50 freestyle in program history. Quintin McCarty powered a dominant 1–2–3 finish for the Pack in the men's 50 freestyle during prelims, setting the stage for another strong final. The momentum continued in the distance events as Lance Norris led yet another 1–2–3 sweep, this time in the men's 500 freestyle, with Filipaiak and Carlsen securing the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds heading into the A-final.

The Wolfpack opened the session with a commanding relay victory from Erika Pelaez, Eneli Jefimova, Leah Shackley, and Cassie Moses. Freshman Eneli Jefimova delivered a 58.18 breaststroke split. Shackley took over on the butterfly leg with a sharp 50.48, and Moses closed in 47.37 to stop the clock at a season-best 3:26.44, well under the NCAA 'A' standard. The momentum carried into the fastest timed final, where NC State dominated with a 3:01.81. Hudson Williams, who clocked 45 seconds in the 100 back for the first time this morning, improved again with a 44.49 lead-off, faster than his 44.65 prelim swim, before Arsen Kozhakhmetov, Kaii Winkler, and Jerry Fox extended the Pack's lead to win by nearly two seconds. Shackley continued her strong form by nearly dipping under 50 again in the 100 back, posting a 50.09 after finishing her freshman NCAA season with a 50.06 for sixth place. The men's 500 freestyle featured a Wolfpack sweep, led by freshman Max Carlsen's lifetime-best 4:14.79, his first time breaking the 4:15 barrier after entering the season having never been under 4:20. Lance Norris (4:16.28) and Mikolaj Filipiak (4:16.50) completed the podium sweep, with Filipiak, also a freshman, continuing his rapid adjustment to yards after dropping from a 4:19.04 entry to a 4:16.23 in prelims. The evening wrapped with two men cracking 19 seconds in the 50 freestyle, highlighted by NCAA 'A' finalist Quintin McCarty, who showcased the sprint speed he honed over the summer and claimed the win in a season-best 18.81.

On the last day of competition, freshman Max Carlsen delivered a dominant performance in the 1650 freestyle, posting a lifetime best of 14:44.52, and the 8th-fastest time in school history. He led a Wolfpack sweep of the podium, with Lance Norris taking second in 14:46.28 and Mikolaj Filipiak finishing third in 14:46.50. Hudson Williams continued his impressive meet by breaking the 45-second barrier in his 100 backstroke lead-off for the first time in his career. In the sprint event, Jerry Fox claimed the win in the 100 freestyle, recording a 41.31, the 5th-fastest time in program history. The dominance continued with a 1–2–3 finish in the 200 IM, led by Daniel Diehl. The Wolfpack capped off the meet in championship fashion, securing back-to-back victories in the 400 freestyle relay to close out the competition.

Looking ahead:

The Wolfpack will send select athletes to compete at the U.S. Open from Dec. 3-6, while NC State diving will jump-start the new year at the Tennessee Diving Invite, set for Jan. 2-4

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