Wolfpack Crowned Inaugural CSL Champions in Indianapolis

Friday, November 6

Indianapolis, IN

4:30 p.m. ET

NC State

College Swimming League - Championship

11/6/2026 8:03:00 PM | Swimming

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The NC State Wolfpack are bringing the inaugural CSL Championship title back to Raleigh after delivering a dominant performance on both the men's and women's sides. The Pack showcased its depth across the competition, finishing atop the standings with a combined 519.5 points. Tennessee followed in second with 469 points, Virginia placed third with 449.5 points, and Indiana rounded out the field in fourth with 282 points.

Eneli Jefimova, Jan Gajda, Kaii Winkler, and Max Carlsen each captured individual event victories for the Wolfpack, leading the way with an impressive collection of top finishes. Winkler led the charge with multiple victories, taking the top spot in the 100 butterfly (45.50) and 100 IM (46.37), before closing out the men's 50 freestyle Skins event with another win for the Pack.

Jefimova and Gajda powered through the breaststroke events, each claiming back-to-back victories in the 100 breaststroke. Jefimova touched first in 58.13, while Gajda secured the men's title in 52.02. Jefimova added two more victories to her impressive day, sweeping the breaststroke events with wins in the 50 skins breaststroke (26.55) and 200 breaststroke (2:05.70). On the men's distance side, Carlsen delivered a winning performance in the 500 freestyle, touching in 4:13.25.

The Wolfpack also made its mark in the record books, with Winkler and Erika Pelaez each setting new standards in the 100 IM. Winkler clocked a 46.37 to establish a new CSL record, while Pelaez posted a 52.94 to set a new NC State school record.

NC State's men's 200 freestyle relay squad continued to showcase its speed, bringing the nation's fastest time of the season into the championship round. Winkler, Jerry Fox, Quintin McCarty, and Wells Walker teamed up to post a 1:15.13, narrowly missing their season-best mark while adding valuable points to the Wolfpack's growing lead.

The Skins events provided another opportunity for the Pack to separate itself from the field. Jefimova swept all four rounds of the women's 100 breaststroke Skins, maintaining her position at the top throughout the event. On the men's side, Fox and Winkler went head-to-head through all four rounds of the 50 freestyle Skins, with Winkler ultimately pulling away to secure the victory for NC State.

With the championship still on the line, it all came down to the final Skins relay. The Wolfpack entered the closing 200 medley relay with the lead and needed one final push to secure the title. Winkler, Gajda, Isaiah Aleksenko, and Fox battled through the final event, narrowly missing the relay victory but collecting enough points to officially crown NC State the inaugural CSL Champions.

With championship hardware in hand, the Wolfpack head back to Raleigh after making history and establishing themselves as the first-ever CSL Champions.