The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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TRACKING THE PACK NC State senior men's soccer player Zane GETTING TO KNOW ■ Zane Tharakan, Men's Soccer Tharakan was named one of 10 male fi- nalists for the 2012 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar award. The Raleigh native was selected among 600 minority student-athletes nominated by their various colleges. Tharakan, who was a two-time All-ACC academic team selec- tion, is scheduled to graduate in May with a degree in business administration. The winner will be profiled in the May 24 edition of Diverse: Issues In Higher Educa- tion magazine. Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III won the award last year before going on to becoming a Heisman Trophy winner for the Bears this past fall. Students have to maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.2 and be active on their campus or in their community to be nominated for the award. Tharakan battled injuries this past year to record two assists in nine games for the Wolfpack from his defensive position. He finished his NCSU career with nine assists in 39 games played. Tharakan, who was nominated for the Arthur Ashe Jr. award in 2010 and 2011, recently took some time to talk with The Wolfpacker and answer some questions. Quick Questions Café. Who would you like to see in concert? Coldplay. Where would you have gone to college if it Favorite place to eat in Raleigh? Oakwood Tharakan was named one of 10 male finalists for the 2012 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar award. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS the 10 finalists for the award? "I really couldn't believe it with how many people were What was your reaction to being named one of nominated for it. To be narrowed down to the final 10, I was in shock and awed. It's such a great honor. "Our academic advisor, Maria Tyson, who is fantastic, knew about this and got the ball rolling. She took the initiative to nominate me. I'm just so grateful and gra- cious for that. " wasn't NC State? UNC Charlotte. Favorite athlete to watch while at NC golf, but I'm not very good at it at all. I also like tennis. Favorite class at NC State? Personal finance. Guilty TV pleasure? I watch the "Amazing State? When he was here, Russell Wilson was exciting to watch in football. Ryan Hill, whenever he does his cross country races, and he ran the mile in 3:58.33. Favorite sport outside of soccer? I like playing Race." this summer? I'm going to Europe for two weeks on a vacation. I hope to go to the Champions League final in Munich. Have you taught your girlfriend's dog any tricks? I will never admit to her, but I do like hang- ing out with it. It's a little black pug named Bella. I'm almost positive they named it after Bella in "Twi- light. What are you looking forward to doing your career in the future? "Just to be a finalist is a huge honor. It really hasn't hit " How do you think this nomination will impact me, but it's a national award. I don't think anything like this has happened to me before, but I was fortunate enough to be All-ACC academic twice my last two years. That was one of the proudest academic achievements I've had. change, but I want to go back and get my MBA. "I interned with Cisco this past summer. I'd do our Any future academic goals or career plans? "I've always had this goal, and I don't think it will ever soccer workouts at 6 a.m. and then go straight into work. I got an e-mail midway through the soccer season saying that they'd extend me a job offer in their sales associate program next year. I knew after I interned that this is what I wanted to do. " an example. When people know they have a test in two days, and they should be studying more. They'll say, 'I studied for an hour and a half today or an hour, " I was the one to teach it to sit and roll over. What is a pet peeve? Rationalizing. I'll give when they know they should be studying. 20 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ' and they'll take an hour off to watch TV tons of phone calls and e-mails asking you to come play at their school and team. The ACC is the toughest confer- ence in the country hands down for soccer. "Not many people get to play for their hometown school, and I was one of the very few to do that. I always wanted to stay in the ACC, and to have NC State call me was a dream come true." want to go to NC State? "When you get recruited, you get tons of offers and Being born and raised in Raleigh, did you always NC State? "I have two. The first was when it was pouring rain in What are your favorite soccer memories at the ACC Tournament my sophomore year, and it's 33 degrees, right above freezing. We were playing Carolina, and ended the first half 0-0, and the second half 0-0. The first overtime period was also 0-0. We ended up beating them in penalty kicks to reach the semifinals, where we also won and made it to the ACC finals for the first time in around 20 years. "The second one, I didn't start right away my sopho- corner kick, and I cleared the ball out and started drib- bling. It was just me, one-on-one with the goalie, and I was so close to scoring, but the goalie came out to tackle me and took me out, getting a red card. I was about 20-30 yards from scoring. " That might be cliché, but to see what they've given up and done for me, I'd be remiss to not mention them. They could have done a lot of different things with their lives, but for them to give up to give me the opportunity to play soccer and travel to God knows where in high school so I could get recruited to play a game, a sport, makes me appreciate them. "I also appreciate all the coaches I've had at NC State and the trainers and staff. Both coaching staffs — Coach [George] Tarantini and then Coach [Kelly] Findley — re- ally molded me as a person and as a soccer player to do my best. " — Jacey Zembal Who inspires you? "Definitely my parents, Varghese and Glory Tharakan. more year, but my very first game coming back was against Appalachian State. About five minutes, I got an assist off a throw in, so we are winning 1-0. They scored a goal in the second half to tie it 1-1. With about 10-15 minutes left in the game, I got another assist off a throw in. "With about two minutes left in the game, they got a