Pack Power to Second Place Finish, Sets Multiple CSL Records

Friday, September 25

Westmont, IL

5:00 p.m. ET

NC State

College Swimming League - Match 2

Pack Power to Second Place Finish, Sets Multiple CSL Records

9/25/2026 10:46:00 PM | Swimming

WESTMONT, IL - The Wolfpack finished second in the inaugural season of the College Swimming League at the FMC Natatorium. In the combined team standings, NC State posted 554.5 points, finishing behind Virginia (666). Alabama placed third with 263 points, while the Georgia Bulldogs finished fourth with 207.5 points.

Nine athletes made their debut with the Wolfpack: Emerson Callis, Zoe Smith, Sydney Gring, Emma Cigna, Morgan Cope, Isaiah Aleksenko, Liam Carrington, Alan Vergine, and Jan Gajda.
Defending national champion Eneli Jefimova got things rolling for the Wolfpack, winning the 200 breaststroke in 2:06.72.

The men's 200 freestyle relay team of Kaii Winkler, Quintin McCarty, Jerry Fox, and Wells Walker delivered a standout performance, posting a time of 1:15.00 to set both a new pool record and CSL record. Fox then picked up his second individual win of the evening in the 50 freestyle, taking the top spot in 19.13. Teammate Wells Walker followed closely behind, finishing second in 19.56.

Leah Shackley added another victory in the 100 backstroke, taking the top spot in 50.58 and setting new pool and CSL records. Jerry Fox earned his first individual win of the season in the 100 freestyle, touching in 41.79 to set both pool and CSL records. Sophomore Lily King also impressed, recording a personal best of 47.98 in the 100 freestyle, the 10th-fastest time in program history.

In the women's 50 backstroke skins, Shackley and Pelaez went head-to-head with Virginia's Clare Curzan and Sarah Curtis. The Wolfpack duo remained strong through the early rounds before Virginia edged ahead in the final round. On the men's side, Quintin McCarty and Kaii Winkler led the field from the start, tying for the top spot in the opening skins race and advancing together into the championship round. McCarty led through the earlier rounds, but Winkler surged ahead when it mattered most, claiming the championship with a time of 20.10.

The Wolfpack made a statement in the 100 breaststroke, with Eneli Jefimova and Morgan Cope finishing 1-2. Jefimova claimed the victory while setting a new CSL record. Competing in her collegiate debut, Cope posted a time that moved her into ninth place on the program's all-time 100 breaststroke performance list. On the men's side, Jan Gajda earned his first collegiate victory, touching in 52.55 to move into 10th place in program history.

Up Next

The Wolfpack will head west next week, with the NC State diving team traveling to Berkeley, California, to compete against Cal and Stanford on October 16. Select Wolfpack swimmers will also travel to Walnut, California, to compete in CSL Match #5 on October 16.