North Carolina State University Athletics
Getting to Know Soccer's Tami Krzeszewski
8/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
The NC State women’s soccer team began training last week in preparation for the upcoming 2008 season. Recently senior co-captain Tami Krzeszewski sat down with GoPack.com for a question-and-answer session discussing a wide range of topics from how exactly you pronounce her last name (Krah ZES ski) to the new home of NC State soccer.
Krzeszewski is the epitome of a student-athlete. Not only has she started all 56 matches in her career, she is among an exclusive group of ACC athletes that have been recognized by the conference on the All-Academic team each of the last three years since the inception of the award in 2005-06. She sat down with media relations assistant Mark Kimmel to talk about her upcoming senior season.
GoPack.com: What percentage of people mispronounce your name?
Krzeszewski: Probably around 89 percent! When someone knows it or says it correctly it really shocks me. It’s rare - trust me.
GoPack.com: Has anyone ever asked you if you are related to Coach Krzyzewski at Duke?
Krzeszewski: All the time. Just the other day I had to call the cable guy for service and he said, "Ma’am, can I ask you a question? Are you related to the coach?" I’ve worn a soccer shirt with my name on the back and someone asks me if I went to coach K’s camp. Like he ever coached soccer before. It happens a whole bunch down here, not so much back home (Erie, Pa.).
GoPack.com: What is it like to finally be a senior?
Krzeszewski: A little crazy, but it’s nice to have a little less anxiety in the summer. Exciting, sad, bittersweet. I’ll be done playing and I’ll miss it, but then I’ll be happy to see what life is like without soccer.
GoPack.com: What was summer like in Erie this year?
Krzeszewski: Not hot like here. I played in a recreation co-ed soccer league that was a little less intense than what I usually play. I was able to play with a lot of old friends that I grew up playing with in high school and club. I also interned at a residential facility that treated addiction and mental illness and it was awesome, I really liked it. I wasn’t sure what direction I wanted to go for grad school, and now I think I’m going to go the addiction-and-recovery path. I was so naive going into it and the first week just blew me away. You just don’t realize what it’s like out there; it is really another world. I’ve taken classes and read about it, but it’s nothing until you hear people talking about stealing money or a television to buy drugs.
GoPack.com: Were you able to get away, vacation?
Krzeszewski: No, I stayed at home. It’s my getaway. I’m only there a short time and my best friends are back home for the summer. Nadia (teammate) came up to visit. She really liked the beach.
GoPack.com: What does the term “team captain” mean to you?
Krzeszewski: I never needed a label. It’s a privilege to wear the captain band, but I won’t act any differently that I did when I wasn’t captain. It doesn’t change who I’m or what I am about at all. My personality has always been get it done, do it right, do it hard.
GoPack.com: Are you a vocal leader or do you lead by example on the field?
Krzeszewski: I start out completely on the field and then as I earn that respect from my teammates the vocal (leadership) comes out.
GoPack.com: What is the best part of being a student-athlete?
Krzeszewski: Being on scholarship. Not having to worry about school loans. Seriously, the camaraderie among student-athletes is almost an unspoken language. You may not necessarily know the other athlete, but you give them that look, that nod, and wish them good luck. The support given to us is amazing both academically and athletically. From tutoring to asking Wright Wayne (strength and conditioning coach) to stay late to work on quickness. It’s all there as long as you take advantage of it.
GoPack.com: You have played all over the field during your time with NC State. What is your favorite position?
Krzeszewski: Center midfield is where all the dirty work is done and that’s the kind of player I am. Realistically, I’ll play anywhere you want to put me as long as I’m on the field, but I would say across the midfield is my favorite. I have a feeling I’m getting a new taste this year playing in the back this season.
GoPack.com: What do you think about the new Women’s Professional League that is expected to begin next year? Can women’s pro soccer survive in this country?
Krzeszewski: I think it can last. For players like Lindsay (Vera), when they come out there is no place for them to go. They need something in between college and the national team, and the only way to get your national team better is to have a pool of players constantly playing at that high of a level. If they can target the young girls and get the fan base started, I think you got it. I really hope it lasts because it’s an opportunity that all of us as young girls wish we had.
GoPack.com: You seem to be a master of “time management” after having a near-perfect GPA and also playing a significant role in soccer the last three years. Talk about how you have accomplished it?
Krzeszewski: I’ve been doing it for the last 15 years of my life. It’s just a habit. My time management has gotten better since I’ve been here. I don’t procrastinate as much as I used to. There is enough time, you just have to do it.
GoPack.com: What has been your toughest class here at NC State?
Krzeszewski: It has to be biology lab because I nearly failed for missing two classes because of a volunteer internship. The first time I went to the internship I didn’t have a car, so I thought I would take the bus back into campus. The bus never came. The next time I went and made sure I had a ride back for the evening class, and Megan Connors (former teammate) fell asleep. I called everyone on the team that had a car and I wound up 20 minutes late. Luckily the professor didn’t fail me because the policy was two missed classes resulted in a failing grade.
GoPack.com: How much pride do you take in earning academic honors, to be an NC State Scholar Athlete?
Krzeszewski: It makes me feel great. My sisters always tell me I’m a nerd, but they’re nerds too. I’m proud cause it shows I’m not here just for soccer. I feel like I’m doing the right thing.
GoPack.com: What do you think of the new stadium?
Krzeszewski: It’s beautiful. The surface is great; the atmosphere being on campus is going to be awesome. There are still some people that have been here four years that don’t even know where Method Road is. I think as a team we look forward to people trickling in to see what’s going on and hopefully they see something they like. You couldn’t ask for a better playing surface. Lindsay and I are really excited to finish out our careers there.
The women’s soccer team has the privilege of taking to the pitch for the first game at the NC State Soccer Stadium when the Wolfpack host Wofford on Friday, August 22 under the lights for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Krzeszewski is the epitome of a student-athlete. Not only has she started all 56 matches in her career, she is among an exclusive group of ACC athletes that have been recognized by the conference on the All-Academic team each of the last three years since the inception of the award in 2005-06. She sat down with media relations assistant Mark Kimmel to talk about her upcoming senior season.
GoPack.com: What percentage of people mispronounce your name?
Krzeszewski: Probably around 89 percent! When someone knows it or says it correctly it really shocks me. It’s rare - trust me.
GoPack.com: Has anyone ever asked you if you are related to Coach Krzyzewski at Duke?
Krzeszewski: All the time. Just the other day I had to call the cable guy for service and he said, "Ma’am, can I ask you a question? Are you related to the coach?" I’ve worn a soccer shirt with my name on the back and someone asks me if I went to coach K’s camp. Like he ever coached soccer before. It happens a whole bunch down here, not so much back home (Erie, Pa.).
GoPack.com: What is it like to finally be a senior?
Krzeszewski: A little crazy, but it’s nice to have a little less anxiety in the summer. Exciting, sad, bittersweet. I’ll be done playing and I’ll miss it, but then I’ll be happy to see what life is like without soccer.
GoPack.com: What was summer like in Erie this year?
Krzeszewski: Not hot like here. I played in a recreation co-ed soccer league that was a little less intense than what I usually play. I was able to play with a lot of old friends that I grew up playing with in high school and club. I also interned at a residential facility that treated addiction and mental illness and it was awesome, I really liked it. I wasn’t sure what direction I wanted to go for grad school, and now I think I’m going to go the addiction-and-recovery path. I was so naive going into it and the first week just blew me away. You just don’t realize what it’s like out there; it is really another world. I’ve taken classes and read about it, but it’s nothing until you hear people talking about stealing money or a television to buy drugs.
GoPack.com: Were you able to get away, vacation?
Krzeszewski: No, I stayed at home. It’s my getaway. I’m only there a short time and my best friends are back home for the summer. Nadia (teammate) came up to visit. She really liked the beach.
GoPack.com: What does the term “team captain” mean to you?
Krzeszewski: I never needed a label. It’s a privilege to wear the captain band, but I won’t act any differently that I did when I wasn’t captain. It doesn’t change who I’m or what I am about at all. My personality has always been get it done, do it right, do it hard.
GoPack.com: Are you a vocal leader or do you lead by example on the field?
Krzeszewski: I start out completely on the field and then as I earn that respect from my teammates the vocal (leadership) comes out.
GoPack.com: What is the best part of being a student-athlete?
Krzeszewski: Being on scholarship. Not having to worry about school loans. Seriously, the camaraderie among student-athletes is almost an unspoken language. You may not necessarily know the other athlete, but you give them that look, that nod, and wish them good luck. The support given to us is amazing both academically and athletically. From tutoring to asking Wright Wayne (strength and conditioning coach) to stay late to work on quickness. It’s all there as long as you take advantage of it.
GoPack.com: You have played all over the field during your time with NC State. What is your favorite position?
Krzeszewski: Center midfield is where all the dirty work is done and that’s the kind of player I am. Realistically, I’ll play anywhere you want to put me as long as I’m on the field, but I would say across the midfield is my favorite. I have a feeling I’m getting a new taste this year playing in the back this season.
GoPack.com: What do you think about the new Women’s Professional League that is expected to begin next year? Can women’s pro soccer survive in this country?
Krzeszewski: I think it can last. For players like Lindsay (Vera), when they come out there is no place for them to go. They need something in between college and the national team, and the only way to get your national team better is to have a pool of players constantly playing at that high of a level. If they can target the young girls and get the fan base started, I think you got it. I really hope it lasts because it’s an opportunity that all of us as young girls wish we had.
GoPack.com: You seem to be a master of “time management” after having a near-perfect GPA and also playing a significant role in soccer the last three years. Talk about how you have accomplished it?
Krzeszewski: I’ve been doing it for the last 15 years of my life. It’s just a habit. My time management has gotten better since I’ve been here. I don’t procrastinate as much as I used to. There is enough time, you just have to do it.
GoPack.com: What has been your toughest class here at NC State?
Krzeszewski: It has to be biology lab because I nearly failed for missing two classes because of a volunteer internship. The first time I went to the internship I didn’t have a car, so I thought I would take the bus back into campus. The bus never came. The next time I went and made sure I had a ride back for the evening class, and Megan Connors (former teammate) fell asleep. I called everyone on the team that had a car and I wound up 20 minutes late. Luckily the professor didn’t fail me because the policy was two missed classes resulted in a failing grade.
GoPack.com: How much pride do you take in earning academic honors, to be an NC State Scholar Athlete?
Krzeszewski: It makes me feel great. My sisters always tell me I’m a nerd, but they’re nerds too. I’m proud cause it shows I’m not here just for soccer. I feel like I’m doing the right thing.
GoPack.com: What do you think of the new stadium?
Krzeszewski: It’s beautiful. The surface is great; the atmosphere being on campus is going to be awesome. There are still some people that have been here four years that don’t even know where Method Road is. I think as a team we look forward to people trickling in to see what’s going on and hopefully they see something they like. You couldn’t ask for a better playing surface. Lindsay and I are really excited to finish out our careers there.
The women’s soccer team has the privilege of taking to the pitch for the first game at the NC State Soccer Stadium when the Wolfpack host Wofford on Friday, August 22 under the lights for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
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