Kaii Winkler Delivers Promise for Breakout Sophomore Season at North Carolina State
As one of the top recruits in the country, Kaii Winkler was regarded as a big-time get when the Florida native announced his commitment to North Carolina State University. And during his freshman campaign with the Wolfpack, Winkler enjoyed a solid season. In addition to qualifying for the NCAA Championships in three individual events, Winkler was a valuable relay cog and finished fifth in a pair of events at the ACC Championships.
But if the early-season returns are anything to go by, Winkler could be on the cusp of a breakout sophomore campaign.
Winkler was a force over the weekend, as North Carolina State claimed the title in the inaugural Georgia Tech Dual Meet Tournament. After helping the Wolfpack to early-round victories over Georgia Tech and Auburn, Winkler was superb in N.C. State’s triumph over Georgia in the final. During the weekend, Winkler registered a trio of 41-low performances in the 100-yard freestyle, including a career-best mark of 41.21.
At last year’s NCAA Championships, Winkler saw solo action in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle. His best individual showing was a 26th-place effort in the 100 freestyle, where he was timed in 42.01. That mark fell shy of his season-best time, which was a 41.39. Winkler also handled the leadoff leg of the Wolfpack’s 800 freestyle relay, which finished seventh at NCAAs.
After competing at the 2024 United States Olympic Trials, Winkler took advantage of his dual citizenship and represented Germany at the Olympic Games in Paris. There, he was 28th in the prelims of the 100 butterfly. A summer later, Winkler gained additional international experience when he split 47.52 for Germany during the prelims of the 400 freestyle relay.
Winkler has the potential to be one of the premier 100 and 200 freestyles on the collegiate scene, and he could also support N.C. State in the 50 freestyle or 100 butterfly during the 2025-26 campaign. Based on his efforts in the 100 freestyle over the weekend, Winkler should have some impressive performances in store for the 200 freestyle over the coming months, and particularly during the postseason.
Certainly, he’s a guy North Carolina State is hoping will move to another level in his second year of collegiate competition.
