NC State Lands 1st Ranked Recruit from Class of 2027: #9 Carly Afanasewicz

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Carly Afanasewicz, a USA Swimming Scholastic All-American from Pearl River, New York, has announced her verbal pledge to North Carolina State University’s class of 2031. She told SwimSwam:

“I’m incredibly excited and grateful to announce my verbal commitment to swim and study at NC State University! I want to thank all of my club coaches, especially Coach Don and Coach Ryan, for always believing in me.
I’m also very thankful for the support of my family and friends throughout this journey. A huge thank you to Coach Braden, Coach Stef, and the entire coaching staff at NC State for this amazing opportunity.
GO WOLFPACK!”

Afanasewicz is a junior at Pearl River High School. She swims year-round with Phoenix Aquatic Club and is a highly versatile swimmer, with Summer Nationals cuts in the 200 back and 400 IM and Summer Juniors cuts in the 200 free, 100 back, 100/200 fly, and 200 IM. She is also a Winter Juniors qualifier in the 500 free and 1650 free.

Afanasewicz is the 3rd-fastest 200 backstroker and 400 IMer in the cohort and she ranks among the top 10 in the 200 IM. For that, and her versatility across numerous events, we named her the #9 recruit in our Way Too Early list of the top 20 girls swimmers in the high school class of 2027.

At the 2024 Winter Juniors East, she competed in the 100/200 back, 200 fly, and 200/400 IM and finaled in all but the 200 fly, earning a PB in the 400 IM (4:13.98). Two months later, at Senior Met Winter Championships, she clocked new lifetime bests in the 100 free (50.45), 200 free (1:49.45), 500 free (4:51.16), 50 back (25.96), and 100 fly (53.71). She won the 200 back, 100 fly, and 200/400 IM and was runner-up in the 100 free and 4th in the 500 free.

Afanasewicz had another standout performance in March at Ithaca Sectionals, winning the 400 IM (4:12.01), placing 2nd in the 200 back (1:54.50) and 200 IM (1:59.66), and finishing 3rd in the 100 back (53.79). All four times were PBs.

In long course season, she updated her times in the 100/200/1500 free and 100 back at the beginning of the season, then added PBs in the 400 free (4:24.13), 800 free (9:08.04), and 100 fly (1:02.04) at Senior Mets and the 50 back (29.81), 200 back (2:15.70), and 400 IM (4:52.44) at Summer Juniors.

Afanasewicz would have ranked 4th in the 400 IM and 5th in the 200 IM on the Wolfpack’s depth chart last season. They had three backstrokers under 1:52 (Leah Shackley, 1:48.52; Erika Pelaez, 1:49.81; and Kennedy Noble, 1:51.22). Shackley and Pelaez, both freshmen last season, finished 4th and 7th at NCAAs. Afanasewicz should overlap with them one year upon her arrival in Raleigh.

Best SCY times:

• 400 IM – 4:12.01
• 200 IM – 1:59.66
• 200 back – 1:54.50
• 100 back – 53.79
• 100 fly – 53.71
• 100 free – 50.45
• 200 free – 1:49.45
• 500 free – 4:51.16
• 1650 free – 16:54.01

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