As senior swimmer Kevin Velleca talked about the Pack’s chances in this week’s ACC championship meet, he had a motto to summarize the entire team’s mentality heading into the event.

“We’re not cocky; we’re confident,” Velleca said.

After one of the most successful seasons in the school’s history, the Pack will have that confidence in hand when it travels to College Park, Md., for the 2006 ACC Championships.

Guided by a talented and deep senior class, this year’s team went undefeated at home and registered a 5-1 ACC record — its best mark since 2000. Its only loss came in its final ACC dual meet of the season against North Carolina.

Now with its ACC season concluding at this week’s championship, members of the team said they expect their experience to pay off in the form of a top-four finish.

Senior Cullen Jones said he feels the team can finish as high as second.

“Florida State is the front runner, and they’re looking almost untouchable at the top,” Jones said. “But it’s pretty much a free-for-all for second, third and fourth.”

Perennial powerhouse Virginia, who has won the last nine ACC championships, is reportedly not as strong this year, opening up the door for the Pack possibly to finish second. But to do this, the Pack will need a tremendous effort from its veterans, as well as its rookies.

The dynamic of the swim team is unlike any other team at State in that there is a huge division between the ages of most swimmers. The 26-man team consists of 11 seniors and 11 freshmen, meaning there are only four swimmers who fall into the sophomore or junior category, but the division in ages has not caused a division amongst the team.

“It was definitely a diverse gathering of people this year,” Velleca said. “But it has all come together nicely to where we have a great blend of experience and youth.”

Some of the team’s most important swims this season have come from some of its youngest members — most notably in the distance portion of the meets.

Freshman distance swimmer Andrew Lester has finished in the top-two in all 15 of his attempts this season, including 11 first-place decisions. Fellow freshman Cole Yarborough has also earned a pair of victories in distance events.

Two freshman divers, Alexander Dambly and Austin Hampton, have added a new dimension to this year’s team. The duo stepped in for the departed Steve House, who was the team’s lone diver last season, and they immediately began helping the Pack out in the scoring department.

“They’ve been key to our success this year,” Jones said.

The two divers won’t travel with the men’s team this week, as diver events began last Wednesday with the start of the women’s ACC Championship.

While the freshmen have helped the Pack become a top-tier ACC squad this season, it’s the seniors who have shown them the way.

The Pack have tremendous talent in their senior class, and front a distinguished veteran in nearly every event.

Among those noteworthy seniors is Velleca, who holds the Casey Natatorium record in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 48.94.

Then there’s breaststroker Dan Velez, who won a pair of gold medals this summer in the International Maccabiah Games.

Seniors Peter Ranstead, Lyle Babcock and Scott Dettloff have also had successful senior campaigns and have registered multiple wins in their respective events.

But the star of the group is without question Jones, who has won every individual event he’s competed in this year.

But winning is nothing new to Jones, as he’s been doing it his entire career.

With unmatchable water speed, the sprinter has already won three ACC championships and was the team’s lone All-American in 2005. Besides his All-American status, Jones also has the distinction of being only the second black swimmer in the N.C. State history.

At the 2005 World University Games, the Olympics for college athletes, Jones’ blistering time of 22.17 in the 50-meter free not only earned him a Gold medal, but earned him the title of seventh fastest swimmer in the world.

Jones will look to defend his two-year run as 50-free champion this week at the ACC Championship. The first day of competition is set to begin on Wednesday, and will continue through Saturday.