Isaiah transfers to NC State NCAA D1 swim program

NMI son and standout swimmer Isaiah Aleksenko, after two years competing at the NAIA level at Florida’s Keiser University, is transferring to North Carolina State University—an NCAA Division I program—this fall, after resetting and soaking up the summer sun back home.

After collecting many accolades such as NAIA Swimmer of the Year two years in a row and helping Keiser University to its sixth and seventh national championships, while breaking national, meet, and personal records—as well as gaining experience at the collegiate level—he is now ready to take the leap into a higher and different level of competition.

When he initially got accepted earlier this year, he said it felt amazing, as all the hard work paid off, and that he is very grateful for the opportunity. As a top-notch swimmer at the NAIA level, he had offers from multiple NCAA Division I colleges, but NC State was his first choice.

He had offers from Arizona State University, Florida State University, the University of Southern California, Auburn University, and others, but he said NC State and being part of the Wolfpack felt like the right fit. “I was more comfortable with the swimmers, the coaches—like everybody. I was really comfortable with them, and they’re really funny.”

NC State’s head swim coach Braden Holloway was the head coach for both the U.S. Men’s and Women’s teams at the 2025 World Championships and an assistant coach under head coach Todd DeSorbo for the U.S. Olympic team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. With that, Aleksenko said the program aligns with his goals of one day going to the Olympics.

On transferring to Division I, he said, “In D1, there’s a lot more competition, so I want to learn how to lose and learn from the people that beat me. It’s going to be a good experience for sure.”

His goals at NC State, he said, are experiencing new things, improving, and making new friends.

As Division I college athletes are now getting paid, he said: “I think it is good that athletes are getting paid. It’s a really hard thing to do, especially in college because you’re already focusing on studies—it’s not just regular college things. You don’t just go to class, come back, and study for tests. You’ve got to go to practice, you’ve got to stay in shape, and somewhat be on a diet if you want to be. So it’s really hard mentally and physically, so I think that even just getting paid a little bit is good because being an athlete is a job. It really is a job—it’s hard.”

His message to aspiring college student-athletes in the CNMI: “You have to make use of what you have… don’t be discouraged when you go to bigger places. You’re your own person, you can definitely do it, trust me. Just work hard, think positive all the time—I think when you think negative while you’re there, that messes you up—try to be funny. I think it’s also important to be funny and be yourself when you’re in competitions because when you’re too serious, it’s not that good.”