The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/73006
TRACKING THE PACK QUOTING THE PACK got the same opportunity to make a name for myself with the Chiefs, and that's what I plan to do." again. I was told by so many peo- ple, even by my friends, I wasn't going to make it at NC State. I've "I look at it [as] being a walk-on ■ Former NC State fullback Taylor Gentry on trying to make the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent (The Raleigh News & Observer) "Now NC State has built up expectation, expecta- tion, expectation. Many will look at the Wolfpack as the team to beat in the Triangle, as I said, a legit top- 10 squad based on returning talent and newcomers. Give coach [Mark] Gottfried a ton of credit. He has brought back the energy and enthusiasm to the pro- gram. He has rallied the fans into a frenzy. Gottfried left the TV booth and returned to the sideline, and in a short time, he has built a winner." — ESPN college basketball announcer Dick Vitale on the Wolfpack men's basketball team next year (ESPN.com) "That could very easily happen and maybe should happen. In basketball you can turn it around a lot quicker than you can in football, where you need 30 or 40 players … [NCSU coach] Mark's [Gottfried] done a great job. There was good talent that [Sidney Lowe] brought in, and Mark's really done a great job of getting them to be more focused … they've got some big-time, big-time opportuni- ties." — UNC men's basketball coach Roy Williams on NC State being preseason No. 1 in the ACC (Charlotte Observer) "Rodon is considered the best amateur left-hander in the world, and flashed that potential in three elec- trifying innings against Florida before a two-hour, 23-minute rain delay ended his day and, as it turned out, his season. Rodon works down in the strike zone with a two-seam fastball that sits 91-93 and comple- ments it with a hard slider and a decent changeup, which has splitter action. He looks capable of pitch- ing in the big leagues right now." — Baseball writer Phil Rogers on NC State star freshman pitcher Car- los Rodon (ChicagoTribune.com) "I stayed in Coach [Laurie] Henes' attic. I met with the team every day. I passed a mural with a life-sized [photo] of me every day. I kind of re- membered that I used to be good, I used to be a per- former. I had such good memories and my coaches there loved me and kids are excited about training, and that's infectious." — Former NC State distance star Julia Lucas on her comeback attempt after giv- ing up the sport for nine months to heal (Runner's World Magazine) 16 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ■ PACK PEOPLE Youth National Team and then the 2008 Canadian Junior National Team. In May, she learned that she was one of 32 volleyball players that will be part of Team Canada this summer. The group will be divided into two teams, with one competing in the Pan Am Cup July 11-21 in Jaurez, Mexico, and the other in the 2013 World University Games in Moscow, Russia. Cyr, a native of St. Andrews, Manitoba, transferred to Volleyball setter Megan Cyr The senior was a member of the 2006 Canadian NC State after one season at Colorado and has played in 235 consecutive sets for the Wolfpack. She already has 2,425 career assists in two seasons for NCSU, good for sixth on the school's all-time list. a new standard for the young program, becoming the first — and to date only — female golfer to be a two-time All-ACC honoree, while also being the first to qualify for the NCAA Championships after finishing in a tie for fifth place at the NCAA Central Regional in 2008. Since her days at NC State, Doughtie, a native of Former women's golfer Lauren Doughtie When Doughtie left NC State in 2009, she had set Suffolk, Va., has pursued a professional golfing career, and on June 13 she scored her first career pro win by sinking a 15-foot birdie putt on a sudden death hole to capture the Ladies Titan Tire Challenge in Marion, Ind., on the LPGA's Symetra Tour. The $16,500 payday propelled Doughtie into the top 10 on the Symetra Tour's money list. Carolina Soccer Coaches Association Girls Player of the Year June 5. Gentry scored 30 goals and added 15 assists as a senior, and was named a National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-American for the second straight year. Gentry scored 100 career goals and contributed 55 assists, while helping Leesville Road post a 96-4-6 Women's soccer recruit Caroline Gentry Gentry capped her illustrious career at Leesville Road High in Raleigh by being named the North record and capture a pair of state championships during her time there. She is the younger sister of former NC State football fullback Taylor Gentry and Wolfpack senior linebacker Zach Gentry. Both of her brothers were walk-ons to the football squad who eventually earned scholarships. and is a significant addition to State's wrestling squad. As a freshman this past season, Gwiazdowski compiled a 30-9 record and finished eighth at the 2012 NCAA Championships, earning All-America honors. He was also named a 2012 National Wrestling Coaches Association Academic All-American. Gwiazdowski, a native of Delanson, N.Y., has said in interviews he expects to redshirt next season. Wrestler Nick Gwiazdowski The heavyweight wrestler will be following new coach Pat Popolizio from Binghamton to NC State He highlights the addition of nine new wrestlers announced by Popolizio June 18. NC State also signed junior college All-American Ryan Fox at 165 pounds. Fox finished third at the Junior College Nationals. Swimming coach Braden Holloway Just one year into the program, Holloway is already establishing himself as an up-and-coming coach. During the season, the men's program earned its first top-25 rankings since the 2005-06 campaign and defeated No. 13 UNC in Chapel Hill for its first victory over the Heels in 12 years. Holloway also has the women's squad moving in the right direction. His recruiting class of women's swimmers was ranked No. 23 nationally by CollegeSwimming.com when the ratings were released June 19. The collection is highlighted by four top-200 recruits, including Anne Leuthold of Dresden, Germany, a butterfly specialist ranked No. 49 in the 2012 class by the Web site. Basketball Men's U18 National Team. Florida coach Billy Donovan headed up the squad, while coaches Mark Few of Gonzaga and Shaka Smart of Virginia Commonwealth were his assistants. The team played in the 2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championships in Brazil June 16-20. The United Men's basketball recruit Rodney Purvis The Raleigh, N.C., native and McDonald's All-American was one of 12 players selected for the USA States rolled through the competition to win the title, going undefeated in five games with an average margin of victory of 38.6 points. Purvis averaged 15.6 minutes, 7.0 points, 2.4 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 steal per game during the championships. He made 12 of 27 shots (44.4 percent) and 11 of 18 free throws (61.1 percent). Megan Cyr, who has compiled 2,425 assists at NC State in two seasons, is one of 32 volleyball players invited to be part of Team Canada this summer. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS