The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/81131
TRACKING THE PACK QUOTING THE PACK didn't try to think about it or push it one way. I was just going with the flow." always thinking about the future and everything, but that was one of those decisions that just happened and I "I try to live for the moment for the most part. I mean, everybody's ■ NC State sophomore power forward C.J. Leslie on returning to school next year and bypassing the NBA Draft (Technician) "It is with great pride that I write to you that our 2012 Kay Yow Spring Game was able to raise over $33,000 in donations for the Kay Yow WBCA Cancer Fund and Kay Yow Endow- ment! All of us here at NC State football and the Wolfpack athletic community would like to say 'thank you' to everyone who attended this year's game and helped to make it such a success both on and off of the field." — NC State football coach Tom O'Brien on thanking the fans for the Kay Yow Spring Game turnout (GoPack.com) "I got my foundation from North Carolina State University, in terms of academics and in football. I want to have the ac- cess to be able to come back. Obviously, it's a great place. I graduated from North Carolina State University and I had a good time here. I'll never forget this place." — Former NC State quarterback Russell Wilson, who returned to campus for the Wolfpack football alumni weekend April 20-22 (The Raleigh News & Observer) "I would still go with [junior cornerback] David Amerson. It's been a long time since I've thrown against him, and I threw against him a little bit in practice, and I was curious to see if I could go against him after the year he had [13 inter- ceptions in 2011]. And he's showed he has not dropped off at all. It's great practice for me to go against such a talented player. … At times, you think you threw the perfect ball, and the reality is that you pretty much did. But he still breaks it up." — NC State fifth-year senior quarterback Mike Glennon on the Wolfpack's biggest surprise this spring (ESPN.com) "The key to that is staying healthy. The start of the year [2011] was due to our health. It wasn't due to anything else. Knock on wood, this is the healthiest we have been going through a spring practice. There's only two guys that are out because of injury right now. It's the best we've ever been, the deepest we've ever been. Hopefully, that'll carry over into the fall." —O'Brien on getting off to a good start next year (TheWolfpacker.com) "I think I'm not going to be kind of the deer in the head- lights. I mean, I definitely had that kind of syndrome in 2008 where I was just shocked and so happy to be a part of the team. But at the same time, it was almost overwhelming … I know I'm not the young punk anymore. I'm definitely more of a seasoned veteran." — Former NC State swimmer Cullen Jones on having more confidence and maturity in his pursuit for success at the 2012 Olympics (The Raleigh News & Observer) ■ PACK PEOPLE Hill, N.C., the freshman from Tomball, Texas, is on pace for a record- breaking season at NC State. The shortstop is batting .365 with 54 hits, including five home runs, and 26 RBI. The school record for bat- ting average in a season is .348 by Alyssa Albritten in 2008. Heather Gelbard's 69 hits in 2006 is the most in one year for a Wolfpacker. to advance to the 2012 NCAA Championships April 20 in Duluth, Ga. She scored 9.9 on the bars at the regionals in Raleigh April 7 to tie for first place and qualify for the championships. In Duluth, Fincham, who was first-team all-conference on the bars, scored 9.825 to finish 20th. That was her 10th score of 9.8 or better in the event this season. Rachel Fincham, Gymnastics The junior from Gambrills, Md., was the lone NC State gymnast Ryan Hill, Men's Track & Field Hill, a redshirt junior from Hickory, N.C., won his fifth career ACC individual title April 21 in Charlottesville, Va., this time by taking the 1,500-meter race at the ACC Outdoor Championships. When com- bined with two relay titles and his 2011 cross country triumph, Hill has a total of eight league championships at NC State. Hill was also the second-fastest collegian at the 5,000-meter race at the Payton Jordan Invitational April 30 in Palo Alto, Calif. Augusta James, Women's Golf The freshman from Bath, Ont., made Wolfpack history when she became the first NC State female golfer to be selected ACC Fresh- man of the Year. She was also named first-team all-conference along with sophomore Brittany Marchand. That was the first time that a pair of Wolfpack female golfers placed on the first team in the same year. James competed in all 10 tournaments this year for State, finishing as high as second and placing in the top 10 four times. Jaime Pulgar, Men's Tennis For the third consecutive season, the senior from Madrid, Spain, was selected all-conference. Pulgar went 20-5 this season in singles, all at No. 1, and 16-7 in doubles action with various partners. Pulgar went 7-4 against other members of the 18-player All-ACC squad. Pulgar's 75 career singles wins is tied for fifth most in school history, and his 60 doubles triumphs ranks fourth highest. Carlos Rodon, Baseball Rodon, a freshman from Holly Springs, N.C., has exceeded the lofty expectations for him. After tossing a complete game victory against Duke April 29, the left-hander is 8-0 on the mound with a 1.42 ERA. He has given up just 54 hits in 82 1/3 innings while striking out 97 batters. Rodon was one of three freshmen selected to the watch list for the College Baseball Hall of Fame Pitcher of the Year award. the school's record books. Taylor took first place with a school-record toss of 175 feet, one inch in the discus at the Penn Relays April 27 in Philadelphia. She nearly set the school record in the shot put as well. She won that event in Philadelphia the day before her discus triumph with a heave of 53-11¼, 1¼ inches shy of teammate Lawanda Henry's record. Tremanisha Taylor, Women's Track & Field The redshirt freshman from Henderson, N.C., has already reached opposing pitchers from his leadoff batting spot. Through May 1, Turner was hitting .355 with three home runs and 32 RBI. More impressively, he has scored 50 runs and was 41 of 43 on stolen base attempts. Turner leads the nation in stolen bases and was third in the league in runs scored. Trea Turner, Baseball The freshman third baseman from Lake Worth, Fla., has terrorized MAY 2012 ■ 21 Renada Davis, Softball Heading into the ACC Tournament, which starts May 10 in Chapel