The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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at 178 pounds before eventually making the switch to linebacker and gaining 55 pounds. "If a D-I team had offered me, I don't know if I had gone because State is just in my blood," Zach said. Zach remembers like it was yesterday when he finally received a full scholarship. "It was my first summer session going into my senior year of school and redshirt junior year," Gentry said. "I earned a scholarship, and I was ready to play for [former head] Coach [Tom] O'Brien even more." Zach is taking his last class this semester, Accounting 411, and will graduate with a degree in business administration with a concentration in finance. He is proud to have posted a 4.0 grade-point average last spring. "I'm looking at sales jobs, and IBM would be a great company," Zach said. Zach also followed Taylor's lead and became a standout on special teams, leading the squad in tackles the last two years and finishing second in 2010. He is credited with 38 career tackles going into his last season, and new head coach Dave Doeren has him in the thick of the middle linebacker race with fellow senior Robert Caldwell and sophomore M.J. Salahuddin, who can also play weakside linebacker. Caroline Gentry, a sophomore forward on the women's soccer team, started 11 of 17 games and contributed six points (two goals and two assists) in 2012. Photo courtesy NC State media relations Caroline and Zach Gentry "I'm really excited about these coaches, and they are giving me a shot to play," Zach said. "The coaches have so much energy." Caroline and the women's soccer team will be playing at Miami Sept. 19, when NCSU football is hosting Clemson. The date is the only time women's soccer and football play at the same time, much to the relief of various family members. "Seeing my brothers play throughout their seasons has been awesome," said Caroline, who is majoring in nutrition science. "It's exhilarating on Saturday's. "Most people get into games because it is their school, but for me I love watching my brother out there playing. I love seeing him succeed, too." Rick Gentry never misses an NC State football game, whether home or away, and Kathryn Gentry supports Caroline at home games and nearby regional contests. Zach and Caroline can always look in the stands and see a family member giving support. "My mom comes to as many soccer games as she can, away and home," Caroline said. "She says it is a no-brainer for her and that she is traveling no matter what. She has to switch off with the seasons. "It means a lot. It isn't just my parents because my grandparents will come [from nearby Cary and Durham]. My uncle directs part of the band at State. My aunts, uncles and grandparents all come when they can." Caroline's height helped alleviate one of her big decisions in the eighth grade. Mrs. Gentry coaches gymnastics in the area, and Zach and Caroline both participated in the sport growing up and credit it for their flexibility. Caroline decided to concentrate on soccer over gymnastics in high school, but then grew four inches making the decision easier to handle. Like her brothers, Caroline was a star at Leesville Road High, leading the Pride to state titles in 2009 and 2011, and was named the North Carolina Player of the Year for the latter season. She amassed 96 goals and 82 assists in her high school career and had a scholarship offer from Miami. Zach joked that she should have joined the Hurricanes and enjoyed South Beach, but everyone knew where she was going to end up and which college she hoped to one day defeat. "For me, it was a no-brainer to come to NC State," Caroline said. "My whole family came here, and it was in my blood. Being able to come here and play at a D‑I school is just an honor in itself." Going to NC State also allowed Caroline to achieve one of her dreams. "Scoring against Carolina and being up 1‑0 in the first half was amazing," she said. "That was like a dream come true because my dream as a child was never to play for UNC, but to best UNC and score on them." Caroline started 11 of 17 games last year, and had two goals and two assists for six points, along with 17 shots on goals. Zach called the 5-9 forward "an animal on the field and the best athlete in Gentry family." She joked her father even compares her to a specific animal. "My dad always says that I run like an antelope because my legs are so long," Caroline said. Gentry and her teammates hope to turn around the women's soccer program under new head coach Tim Santoro — the Wolfpack went 5-14 overall and 0-10 in the ACC last year. Playing for first-year coaches is another thing the Gentry's have in common this year. "I feel like this year we will have a much more successful season," Caroline said. "I think we'll have some exciting things happen for us. "It was awesome at Leesville Road, and I just want to feel that here. Winning two championships at Leesville was amazing." Caroline knows the day is coming where she is the last Gentry standing at NC State. She went through it in high school when Zach graduated from Leesville Road. She admits the spring semester and the next two years will be different. "I had Taylor come to my game at UNC Greensboro [Aug. 17], but I know he won't be able to come as much," Caroline said. "We are a family that likes to stay together no matter where we are. We support each other. It's awesome, even now that we are older." ■ 60 ■ the wolfpacker 58,60.Gentry Family.indd 60 8/23/13 2:51 PM