The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1343401
MARCH/APRIL 2021 ■ 15 TRACKING THE PACK Fifth-Year Senior Pitcher Kent Klyman Fifth-year senior pitcher Kent Klyman was the lone senior on last season's baseball roster that decided to return in 2021 after the NCAA granted an additional year of eligibility for spring athletes that had their seasons ended prematurely by the COVID-19 pandemic. In his first four seasons, the 6-7, 261-pound lefty had a career ERA of 2.53 through 113 2 ⁄3 innings. The reliever posted a career-best 1.42 ERA in 6 1 ⁄3 innings in 2020 before the season was cut short. The native of Williamsburg, Va., has Wolfpack tradition in his blood. His grandfather was an NC State basketball player for Everett Case in the 1950s, and his grandfather's brother-in-law also played for Case. Here are a few other interesting facts you may not have known about Klyman: Favorite book: "When March Went Mad." Major: "I finished up my degree in sports man- agement in the fall, and I'm working on a coach- ing minor right now." Favorite sport to watch other than baseball: "Basketball." An athlete you look up to: "[Los Angeles Dodgers left-handed pitcher] Clayton Kershaw and [former MLB All-Star lefty] Chris Sale." Favorite class at NC State: "Sports marketing." Favo r i te re s t a u ra nt a ro u n d c a m p u s : "Amedeo's." Favorite memory from being on the base- ball team: "Tyler McDonough's walk-off against Florida State on a Saturday night to get to 19-0 [in 2019]. That game booted them out of the No. 1 spot, and we became No. 1 for the next three weeks." What he hopes to do once his playing career is over: "When I first got to college, I thought it would be to become the general manager of a professional organization or something similar to that in the front office. I've kind of gotten out of that and want to be a collegiate coach. My love for college sports is a lot greater than it is for professional sports in general, so I think stay- ing in the college realm [would be best], just the excitement that it brings. The last couple years have swung my interest into being a college- level coach." Favorite place to study or hang out around campus: "Early on in my college career, we would go to Hunt Library to study for a couple hours on the weekend." One word to describe Coach Elliott Avent: "Inspirational." — Justin H. Williams GETTING TO KNOW A PERCENTAGE OF EVERY HOME SALE GOES TO SUPPORT ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH AND CARE. McKeeHomesNC.com | 910-672-7296 PROUD TO SUPPORT THE NC STATE WOLFPACK Faye eville | Raleigh | Pinehurst | Wilmington