NC State vs. Texas
- Friday, January 26, 2024
- Casey Aquatic Center, Raleigh, NC
- SCY
- Dual Meet Format
- Livestream Link (required ACC+ subscription)
- Results on Meet Mobile as “NC State vs Texas”
The Texas Longhorn men and women are visiting the Tar Heel State this weekend, and their first stop is in Raleigh. Last weekend, the NC State men came out on top in an high-energy meet against their ACC rivals UVA, while the Wolfpack women lost to the top-ranked Cavaliers. It could be a similar story this weekend, as the NC State men look deeper than a Texas squad that’s lost a lot this year. On the women’s side, the Longhorns remain 2nd in our latest round of power rankings (men’s should be released soon), while NC State is ranked 9th.
The two teams faced off this weekend last year, albeit at Texas, and that meet was a rip-roaring affair that included nation-leading times, National Age Group records, school records, and exciting races. Hopefully we’ll be in store for more of the same this year.
Meet Mobile indicates that today’s event schedule will look a bit different than the typical dual meet lineup: there won’t be any stroke 200s, there will be a 1650 (men-only) instead of the 1000 free, and that may be at the end of the meet, and we’ll get to see three relays: the 200 medley, the 200 free, and the 400 free.
If you have an ACC+ subscription through your cable or streaming tv provider, you can watch the meet at the livestream link included above.
Women’s 200 Medley Relay
Top 3:
- Texas ‘B’ – 1:34.24
- NC State ‘A’ – 1:34.40
- Texas ‘A’ – 1:35.14
Both teams are suiting up for this meet, and we got a humdinger of a race to kick off the night. Texas jumped out to an early lead and held off NC State anchor Katharine Berkoff, who split a fast 20.70 on the anchor leg, to win 1:34.24 to 1:34.40.
Texas already owns the 3rd-fastest time in the nation this season with a 1:34.14 from the Texas Invite, while NC State moves to #6 this season.
Men’s 200 Medley Relay
Top 3:
- NC State ‘A” – 1:23.04
- Texas ‘A’ – 1:24.41
- Texas ‘B’ – 1:25.23
The Wolfpack men were just off their 1:22.87 midseason time, which ranks 3rd in the nation, as they won by over a second tonight. Aiden Hayes led off in 20.80, followed by Sam Hoover (23.56), Luke Miller (20.07), and Quentin McCarty (18.61).
Texas was ahead at the midway point, after Will Modglin led off in 21.08 and surprise swimmer Jake Foster went 23.11 on breast, before Nate Germonprez (20.79) and Camden Taylor (19.43) brought it home.
The big story may be Foster, who wasn’t expected to swim for the Longhorns collegiately this season. He is scheduled to race at the Doha World Championships about a week from now, so this meet may serve as a tuneup for him.
Women’s 200 Free
Top 3:
- Kelly Pash (Texas) – 1:42.88
- Erin Gemmell (Texas) – 1:43.52
- Annabel Crush (NC State) – 1:45.99
Kelly Pash was already the #3 swimmer in the country this season with her 1:42.64, and she was just off that time tonight as she won in 1:42.88.
Men’s 200 Free
Top 2:
- Luke Hobson (Texas) – 1:31.88
- Kacper Stokowski (NC State) – 1:32.91
- Coby Carrozza (Texas) – 1:34.22
Defending NCAA champion Luke Hobson moved from #8 in the nation to #3 with a swift 1:31.88 win, breaking the NC State pool record. Like Foster, Hobson will represent Team USA at the World Championships in Doha. NC State’s Kacper Stokowski, who we don’t see swim this event as often, took 2nd in 1:32.91. That appears to be a personal best by well over a second for Stokowski, who normally swims back or fly.
Women’s 100 Fly
Top 3:
- Emma Sticklen (Texas) – 50.39
- Olivia Bray (Texas) – 50.90
- Abby Arens (NC State) – 51.45
Longhorn Emma Sticklen broke the pool record with a super fast 50.39, just off her midseason time of 50.36, which ranks #2 in the nation. Fellow Longhorn Olivia Bray, who holds the #4 in the nation, was also under 51 at 50.90, followed by NC State’s Abby Arens (51.45).
Men’s 100 Fly
Top 3:
- Luke Miller (NC State) – 45.33
- Noah Bowers (NC State) – 46.25
- Cole Crane (Texas) – 46.34
Luke Miller was the only man under 46, swimming to a 45.33 win. Miller focused on the 200 free early in his career, but it looks like he’s shifted to this event, as he owns a 44.17 time this season, which was the fastest time in the nation until Andrei Minakov went 44.16 against ASU last weekend.
Miller’s teammate Noah Bowers got past Texas’ Cole Crane to touch 2nd, 46.25 to 46.34. 2023 NCAA 200 fly champ Aiden Hayes touched 4th at 46.41.
Women’s 100 Breast
Top 3:
- Anna Elendt (Texas) – 57.51
- Lydia Jacoby (Texas) – 58.15
- Channin Hanley (Texas) – 1:00.35
It was a Longhorn sweep, as Anna Elendt clocked a season-best time with a 57.51. Elendt already owned the #3 time in the nation with a 57.75. Lydia Jacoby, fresh off a redshirt fall semester, clocked a 58.15 to take 2nd.
Men’s 100 Breast
Top 3:
- Jake Foster (Texas) – 51.22
- Will Scholtz (Texas) – 52.67
- Sam Hoover (NC State) – 53.00
Jake Foster, in his first individual race of the season, blasted a lifetime best and NCAA-leading time of 51.22 to take the win. Foster’s previous best of 51.85 came from this meet last year. The Longhorns have a few talented freshmen breaststrokers, but it’ll be interesting to see if Foster opts to swim the 100 breast over the 400 IM at NCAAs.
Longhorn freshman Will Scholtz took 2nd at 52.67, just two-tenths off his lifetime best from midseason. NC State’s Sam Hoover took 3rd at 53.00, setting a new lifetime best by 0.01s. Hoover was more of a 100/200 freestyler in his freshman campaign two years ago, but after missing most of last season, he’s appears to be focusing more on sprint breast this season.
Women’s 500 Free
Top 3:
- Erin Gemmell (Texas) – 4:40.40
- Erica Sullivan (Texas) – 4:42.25
- Yara Hierath (NC State) – 4:43.54
Longhorns Erin Gemmell and Erica Sullivan both hit season-best times as Texas finished 1-2. NC State’s Yara Hierath was just off her lifetime best of 4:43.28 as she took 3rd in 4:43.54.
Men’s 200 IM
Top 3:
- Daniel Diehl (NC State) – 1:43.11
- Nate Germonprez (Texas) – 1:44.40
- Jake Foster (Texas) – 1:45.46
Last weekend, Daniel Diehl made a surprise college debut for the Wolfpack. Tonight, he broke a NC State pool record with a 1:43.11 win in the 200 IM. Longhorn teammates Nate Germonprez (1:44.40) and Jake Foster (1:45.45) finished 2nd and 3rd.
The Longhorns lead 75-57 at this point.
Women’s 200 Free Relay
Top 3:
- Texas ‘A’ – 1:27.65
- NC State ‘A’ – 1:28.99
- Texas ‘B’ – 1:29.56
Grace Cooper led off in 22.25, then Emma Sticklen (21.87), Ava Longi (21.71), and Emma Davidson (21.82) provided a trio of sub-22 split as Texas won in 1:27.65. The Longhorns own the #2 time in the nation with a 1:26.31. Katharine Berkoff led off in 22.52 for the Wolfpack, who took 2nd in 1:28.99.
Score update: Texas 115, NC State 33
Men’s 200 Free Relay
Top 3:
- NC State ‘A’ – 1:16.23
- NC State ‘B’ – 1:18.16
- Texas ‘A’ – 1:18.80
Buoyed in part by diving, Texas has been winning so far, but NC State closed the gap with a 1-2 finish in the 200 free relay. Noah Henderson led off in 19.35, Quintin McCarty blasted a 18.68 split, then Drew Salls (19.01) and Jerry Fox (19.19) brought it home. Their time of 1:16.23 isn’t far off NC State’s season-best of 1:16.00, which ranks 4th in the nation.
With the abnormal schedule, neither team opted to use its strongest lineup, but the Wolfpack depth was on display, as their ‘B’ team touched for 2nd.
Score update: Texas 76, NC State 72
Women’s 200 IM
Top 3:
- Kelly Pash (Texas) – 1:54.47
- Angie Coe (Texas) – 1:56.24
- Kennedy Noble (NC State) – 1:56.74
Kelly Pash earned her second individual win of the evening, taking down the pool record with a 1:54.47. Pash owns the #3 time in the nation with a 1:53.18 from midseason. Teammate Angie Coe wasn’t far off her midseason time of 1:55.91 with a 1:56.24, while NC State’s Kennedy Noble took 3rd at 1:56.74.
Men’s 500 Free
Top 3:
- Ross Dant (NC State) – 4:16.21
- Luke Hobson (Texas) – 4:16.34
- James Plage (NC State) – 4:16.59
You don’t always see the 500 free come down to the touch at a dual meet, but three swimmers were in it over the final length. NC State’s Ross Dant got his hand on the wall first, winning in 4:16.21. Luke Hobson, coming off his victory in the 200 free, didn’t quite have enough in the tank and touched 2nd in 4:16.34, followed by NC State’s James Plage at 4:16.59.
NC State now leads 86-81.
Women’s 100 Back
Top 3:
- Katharine Berkoff (NC State) – 49.82
- Olivia Bray (Texas) – 52.12
- Emma Kern (Texas) – 52.17
NC State’s Katharine Berkoff blasted a season-best time of 49.82. That might be the fastest dual meet time ever, if Gretchen Walsh didn’t exist. Walsh holds the fastest time in the country this season with a 48.77 from just last weekend, while Berkoff’s time now ranks #2.
Texas is officially exhibitioning events at this point, but Olivia Bray (52.12) and Emma Kern (52.17) touched 2nd and 3rd.
Men’s 100 Back
Top 3:
- Kacper Stokowski (NC State) – 44.37
- Will Modglin (Texas) – 45.87
- Aiden Hayes (NC State) – 46.25
2022 NCAA champ Kacper Stokowski tied Hubert Kos for the #2 time in the nation this season, storming to a 44.37 win here. Longhorn freshman Will Modglin, who ranks 4th in the nation with a 44.49, took 2nd in 45.87, followed by NC State’s Aiden Hayes at 46.25.
Women’s 400 Free Relay
Top 3:
- Texas ‘A’ – 3:12.22
- Texas ‘B’ – 3:15.96
- NC State ‘A’ – 3:15.98
The Longhorns stormed to a 1-2 win to just about close out the night. Kelly Pash led off in 48.18, Ava Longi (48.12) and Emma Davidson (48.37) followed with strong splits, and then Erin Gemmell threw down a 47.55 split to stop the clock in 3:12.22. Texas ranks #4 in the nation with a 3:10.46.
It looks like the women’s competition is over now, and Texas has won by a score of 130 to 68, despite not swimming for points in the final few events.
Men’s 400 Free Relay
Top 3:
- NC State ‘A’ – 2:48.24
- NC State ‘B’ – 2:51.66
- Texas ‘A’ – 2:52.48
The Wolfpack men clocked a season-best time that moves them up to #5 in the nation this season. Quintin McCarty continued to showcase his speed with a 42.16 leadoff. Jerry Fox followed with a 42.44 split, then Luke Miller (41.87) and Sam Hoover (41.77) closed with a pair of sub-42 splits as NC State easily won in 2:48.24.
The real race was the battle for 2nd, but the NC State ‘B’ team beat out the Texas ‘A’ team 2:51.66 to 2:52.48.
We’ve still got the mile to go, but NC State has secured the win with a 115-88 lead at this point.
Men’s 1650 Free
Top 3:
- Lance Norris (NC State) – 14:48.34
- Kyle Ponsler (NC State) – 15:05.69
- Alec Enyeart (Texas) – 15:09.77
The Wolfpack had already locked up the victory, but the NC State distance crew made the gap even wider with a 1-2 finish here. Lance Norris hit a new lifetime best by over 6 seconds to take the win, and that time of 14:48.34 will punch his ticket to NCAAs. Teammate Kyle Ponsler had an even bigger lifetime best to take 2nd. Coming into today, Ponsler’s best time stood at 15:41.41 from back in 2019. Tonight, he swam 15:05.69. Alec Enyeart, who qualified for NCAAs last year in this event, took 3rd in 15:09.77.
Elendt and Pash.. wow. great times. They’re dangerous
Erin Gemmell is flexing some impressive range. 21.7 split up to 4:40 for the 5free
Do they still not know who is going to be next coach? How are they recruiting?
IDK, I think you can assume that the next coach is going to be someone really good, right? For some the draw at Texas is just that big.
Rumor mill says a few names have been eliminated but none chosen yet.
Lots of big raises coming to stay put.
me. Bill Lumberg will be the coach. Whaaaaaatss happening? Did you get the memo?
I’ll name a few recruiting points besides the obvious of Wyatt and Eddie. It has a tradition of great team culture, coaching, and alumni support, the $$$ and drive to hire a top coach. UT is a top 10 public university in a great town/ climate with awesome facilities. Its move to the SEC probably means even more $ for the athletic facilities.
I know I’ll get some down votes but I could see Texas women pulling off an upset this year and take the title. It’s a long-shot but they are deeeeeeep
I don’t know this with certainty but I would imagine the vast majority of the time the team that wins has the most A final swims at NCAAs. B final swims help but I doubt there have been many teams that have won because of the B final depth.
Depth in dual meets is way different than depth at NCAAs.
Cal this year will get most (between 10-12) of their A final swims from Lasco, Alexy, Seeliger, and Jett. They’ll probably get another 3-7 from other guys, but you need 5-7 horses to score most of your points and contribute to relays.
NCS women have regressed so much berkoff is singlehandedly carrying the team on her shoulders
I hate that in her last year. It’s a 3-4 person team unless some others progress sooner. They’re weak in breast, fly, and sprint free. The ‘24/‘25 recruits can’t get there soon enough. Fingers crossed that Eneli Jefimova shows up in ‘25.
NC STATE got all the hype just to be mid
Best ratioed Jalen T comment in history.
You are fully correct
Havent heard anything about Enyeart in a long time, really thought he was due for something special
March
Think he got buried by their training last year. Started the year really well then kept getting slower. Texas has done that to a number of their best distance guys.
Texas sprint/distance free training being subpar is especially surprising considering their mid D free training is best in world (other than GB/boxall)
For the first time in a long time the Texas women are better than the Texas men.
Last year?
Whoops