Strong Season for Athletics

NC State athletics inched closer to reaching the Top 25 goal set for the department by Chancellor Randy Woodson and athletics director Debbie Yow when they arrived in 2010.

The Wolfpack finished 34th overall in the 2012-13 NACDA Directors Cup, its second-best finish since the award began in 1994, and scored a school-record 633.6 points in the final standings, which were released on June 27 by the National Association of Collegiate Athletics Directors. The total, which was fifth among ACC schools and 30th among all public institutions, was more than 50 points better than the previous record of 576.6, which was set last year.

“Our overarching goal for NC State athletics is to become a perennial Top 25 intercollegiate athletics program,” Yow said. “Congratulations to our coaches and student athletes for their improved performance in the Director’s Cup. Stronger competitive outcomes and academic achievement remain the cornerstones of our strategic plan.”

Overall, Wolfpack athletics had an outstanding year. It was one of just three schools nationally to qualify for a postseason bowl game in football, earn a berth in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament and send its baseball team to the College World Series.

A total of 17 of the Wolfpack’s 23 varsity sports scored in this year’s Director’s Cup competition, and all eight of the Wolfpack’s spring sports advanced to their NCAA championships.

The Wolfpack baseball team had the highest overall finish, tying for fifth at the recently completed College World Series. The men’s swimming and diving team was 15th at the NCAA Championship, its best finish since 1979, and second-year head coach Braden Holloway was named ACC Coach of the Year.

The Wolfpack won three conference titles during the year: an Atlantic Coast Conference title in softball, an East Atlantic Gymnastics League title in gymnastics and a South Eastern Air Rifle Conference title in rifle.

Sophomore softball player Emily Weiman was named ACC Pitcher of the Year and ACC Championship Most Outstanding Player while leading the Wolfpack to its second league title in the 10-year history of the program. Senior All-American runner Ryan Hill finished second nationally in the mile at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.