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Winkler, Sitz, Gorbenko, Jefimova and Knight Take ACC Swimming and Diving Honors for Week Seven

Published

5 days ago

November 11, 2026

Kaii Winkler swimming freestyle for NC State. Photo via NC State Athletics.

NC State’s championship weekend drove the seventh week of ACC swimming and diving honors. Kaii Winkler piled up nine wins at the first College Swimming League Championship, and Eneli Jefimova swept six individual races as the Wolfpack beat the nation’s top ranked team.

In the seventh set of weekly honors for the 2026-27 Atlantic Coast Conference Swimming & Diving season, NC State’s Kaii Winkler was named ACC Men’s Swimmer of the Week, while SMU’s Luke Sitz was voted ACC Men’s Diver of the Week. Louisville’s Anastasia Gorbenko and NC State’s Eneli Jefimova shared ACC Women’s Swimmer of the Week honors, while North Carolina’s Sofia Knight was named ACC Women’s Diver of the Week.

ACC MEN’S SWIMMER OF THE WEEK
Kaii Winkler, Jr., NC State (Miami, Florida)
– Secured five first-place individual finishes and four relay wins to help lead NC State to the first-ever College Swimming League (CSL) Championship title with victories over No. 2 Indiana, No. 6 Tennessee and No. 8 Virginia.
– 50 free: 19.83; 50 free: 19.79; 50 free: 20.00; 100 IM: 46.37 (No. 1 time in the nation); 100 fly: 45.50 (NCAA Cut); 200 free relay: 18.90 leadoff split (NCAA Cut); 200 medley relay skins: 21.10, 21.16, 21.25 backstroke split

ACC MEN’S DIVER OF THE WEEK
Luke Sitz, Jr., SMU (Prosper, Texas)
– Finished first in the 1-meter dive (359.40) against TCU. NCAA Zone Cut
– Finished first in the 3-meter dive (427.20). NCAA Zone Cut

ACC CO-WOMEN’S SWIMMER OF THE WEEK
Anastasia Gorbenko, Jr., Louisville (Kiryat Yam, Israel)
– Recorded two first-place individual finishes, a second-place individual finish and two second-place relay finishes to help the Cardinals place second in the CSL Wild Card Match against No. 3 Indiana, No. 6 California and No. 8 Stanford.
– 200 breast: 2:05.05 (first place, NCAA Cut); 100 breast: 58.09 (second place, NCAA Cut); 100 IM: 51.80 (first place); 200 free relay: 21.50 split (second place); 200 medley relay: 26.68 split (second place)

ACC CO-WOMEN’S SWIMMER OF THE WEEK
Eneli Jefimova, So., NC State (Sillamäe, Estonia)
– Recorded six first-place individual finishes to help the Wolfpack defeat No. 1 Virginia, No. 3 Indiana and No. 4 Tennessee in the inaugural CSL Championship.
– 100 breast: 58.13; 200 breast: 2:05.70; 50 breast skins: 26.83, 26.55, 26.55, 26.55

ACC WOMEN’S DIVER OF THE WEEK
Sofia Knight, Jr., North Carolina (Sydney, Australia)
– Finished first in the 1-meter dive (321.68) against No. 23 Virginia Tech. NCAA Zone Cut
– Finished first in the platform dive (317.10). NCAA Zone Cut

ACC Men’s Swimmer of the Week
Sept. 29 – Jerry Fox, Sr., NC State
Oct. 6 – Ryan Erisman, So., California
Oct. 13 – Maximus Williamson, So., Virginia
Oct. 20 – Jerry Fox, Sr., NC State | David King, Jr., Virginia
Oct. 27 – Theo Proca, Fr., NC State
Nov. 3 – Kerem İlyem, Fr., Georgia Tech
Nov. 10 – Kaii Winkler, Jr., NC State

ACC Men’s Diver of the Week
Sept. 29 – Max Fowler, Sr., Georgia Tech
Oct. 6 – Luke Sitz, Jr., SMU
Oct. 13 – Luke Sitz, Jr., SMU
Oct. 20 – Daniel Knapp, 5th, Notre Dame
Oct. 27 – Daniel Knapp, 5th, Notre Dame | Luke Sitz, Jr., SMU
Nov. 3 – Max Fowler, Sr., Georgia Tech
Nov. 10 – Luke Sitz, Jr., SMU

ACC Women’s Swimmer of the Week
Sept. 29 – Claire Curzan, Sr., Virginia
Oct. 6 – Caroline Bricker, Sr., Stanford
Oct. 13 – Anastasia Gorbenko, Jr., Louisville
Oct. 20 – Katie Grimes, Jr., Virginia
Oct. 27 – Anastasia Gorbenko, Jr., Louisville
Nov. 3 – Dori Hathazi, Sr., SMU
Nov. 10 – Anastasia Gorbenko, Jr., Louisville | Eneli Jefimova, So., NC State

ACC Women’s Diver of the Week
Sept. 29 – Lizzie Powley, Sr., Georgia Tech
Oct. 6 – Keira Lu, Jr., Duke
Oct. 13 – Audrée Brazeau-Howes, Jr., Louisville
Oct. 20 – Sofia Knight, Jr., North Carolina
Oct. 27 – Keira Lu, Jr., Duke
Nov. 3 – Aurelie Sevigny, Fr., Miami
Nov. 10 – Sofia Knight, Jr., North Carolina

Benedict Rallies From 24 Points Down to Beat Kentucky State 52-45 in Overtime and Win the SIAC Championship

Published

53 minutes ago

November 15, 2026

KJ Butler

A Benedict receiver in a purple jersey leaps high above a Kentucky State defender to catch the football during the SIAC Championship game.

A Benedict receiver climbs above a Kentucky State defender to pull down a catch during the Tigers' 52-45 overtime win over Kentucky State in the SIAC Championship. Photo by KJ Butler.

Benedict College is a champion again. The Tigers came back from 24 points down on Saturday in Columbia, beating Kentucky State 52-45 in overtime to win the SIAC Championship, the third conference title in program history, and the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division II playoffs came with it.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — November 14, 2026

What started as a competitive conference championship matchup turned into an unforgettable day at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, as Benedict College delivered a remarkable comeback to defeat Kentucky State 52-45 in overtime, capturing its third conference football championship in program history.

With the SIAC Championship on the line, both teams came out ready to compete. The opening quarter featured an evenly matched battle, with both offenses finding opportunities while the defenses worked to establish control. Benedict struck first, taking a 14-7 lead into the second quarter.

Kentucky State Takes Over

However, the momentum quickly shifted in favor of Kentucky State.

The Thorobreds delivered a dominant second quarter, outscoring Benedict 17-0 before continuing their offensive surge in the third. Kentucky State eventually built a 24-point lead after putting together 31 unanswered points, leaving the Tigers with a mountain to climb.

The Comeback

But Benedict wasn’t ready to surrender its championship hopes.

Benedict's quarterback in a purple No. 3 jersey leaps over a diving Kentucky State defender while carrying the football. — *Benedict’s quarterback hurdles a diving Kentucky State tackler as the Tigers rally in the SIAC Championship. Photo by KJ Butler.*

The Tigers found another gear in the fourth quarter, putting together a furious comeback and scoring 24 points in the final period to pull even at 45-45. After trailing by as many as 24 points, Benedict had turned what appeared to be a comfortable Kentucky State victory into a championship thriller.

A Wild Final Minute

The final minute of regulation brought even more drama.

With approximately one minute remaining, Kentucky State punted the ball to Benedict, but the Tigers muffed the return, giving the Thorobreds another opportunity to steal the game. Kentucky State moved into position to score, but Benedict’s defense came up with a crucial stop, keeping the Thorobreds out of the end zone.

Benedict's No. 13 in a purple jersey leaps to catch the football with two Kentucky State defenders closing in and fans behind the sideline wall. — *Benedict’s No. 13 pulls down a catch between two Kentucky State defenders during the championship game. Photo by KJ Butler.*

With Kentucky State out of timeouts, clock management became critical. A delay-of-game penalty with nine seconds remaining resulted in a 10-second runoff, sending the game into overtime. The sequence proved costly for the Thorobreds, as a late-game miscommunication and clock-management mishap ended their opportunity to attempt a field goal before regulation expired.

Overtime Decides It

One more possession would determine the championship.

In overtime, Benedict wasted little time making its opportunity count. Quarterback Glenn Foreman connected with Demetris McKelvey on a touchdown pass, giving the Tigers the advantage and putting the pressure squarely on Kentucky State.

Two Benedict defenders collide with a Kentucky State ball carrier in the end zone, knocking the carrier's helmet into the air, with the Benedict band in the background. — *Benedict’s defense delivers a hit that knocks a Kentucky State helmet loose in the end zone during the SIAC Championship. Photo by KJ Butler.*

The Thorobreds were unable to match the score, and Benedict’s sideline erupted in celebration.

After overcoming a 24-point deficit, surviving a dramatic final minute, and finishing the job in overtime, the Tigers walked away with a 52-45 victory and their third conference football championship in program history.

At Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, fans witnessed a comeback that will forever be remembered.

What Is Next

Benedict’s season rolls on into the NCAA Division II playoffs. The SIAC championship carries the conference’s automatic bid, and the Tigers entered the weekend as the No. 1 team in Super Region Two. Benedict learns its first-round opponent at the NCAA Division II selection show on Sunday, November 15 at 6 p.m. ET, with first-round games set for Saturday, November 21.

Kentucky State’s season is not finished either. The Thorobreds close at 8-3 after their first SIAC title game appearance since 2016, and they are expected to land an at-large playoff berth when the bracket is revealed on Sunday night. If their name is called, their first-round game is also Saturday, November 21.