 |
| |
 |
|
| |
Zach Tedeschi s weighted grade-point
average of 4.2 will serve him well when the East High School junior
goes to college at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. (Post / Andy Cross) |
|
|
When 13-year-old Zach Tedeschi
decided to follow in Kip Malo's footsteps, he had no idea they would
lead to the steps of Johns Hopkins University.
Tedeschi, now a junior standout
on the East boys lacrosse team, has orally committed to the prestigious
Baltimore school where Malo - a 2001 East graduate - is a second-team
midfielder for the undefeated Blue Jays.
Tedeschi never met Malo growing
up, although they both attended Graland Country Day School as kids.
Today, Tedeschi wears Malo's old No. 4 jersey and dreams of emulating
him in one more way by guiding the Angels (10-3) to their first state
championship since 2000 - Malo's junior season.
"I watched him play when he was
at East and always looked up to him as a player," said Tedeschi of
Malo, whom he finally met in November during a visit to Johns Hopkins.
Tedeschi's weighted grade- point
average is 4.2. He loves AP calculus and would like to pursue a degree
in economics, which just so happens to be Malo's major.
"It's always kind of flattering
to find out someone has followed you like that," Malo said. "He's
obviously a great player. For him to know where he's going as a junior
is amazing."
According to veteran East coach
Jon Barocas, what makes Tedeschi so good is his blend of mental and
physical strength wrapped inside an athletic and instinctive body.
Barocas, a George
Washington graduate and former Vermont player, has been coaching East
for 27 seasons, long before the sport was sanctioned in 1999 by the
Colorado High School Activities Association. Barocas has racked up more
than 300 victories, with nine state championships.
At 6-feet, 190 pounds, Tedeschi
can play in attack or as a midfielder and possesses a shot that Barocas
calls a "rocket."
"It is not a pleasant thing,"
Barocas said. "When he's on the cage, it's just an amazing shot. He has
one of the hardest shots I've had from a high school player."
In the wake of his breakout
sophomore season, Tedeschi has become an even bigger target for
opposing defenses, which give
him very little time and space to work. Tedeschi did score twice last
week in a loss to rival Kent Denver.
That defeat, like any others,
usually sends the soft-spoken Tedeschi to his backyard, where he
mentally relives key moments and vents his frustrations by practicing
for hours.
"His neighbors must hate him,"
Barocas joked. "But he takes his frustrations out by trying to get
better."
Perhaps the brightest of the
stars in the Angels' lineup, Tedeschi is mindful to never behave like
one. A fiery competitor, Tedeschi prefers constructive criticism over
ripping on a teammate's performance, despite a common belief that
standout players have somehow earned that right.
Tedeschi even treats opponents
in similar fashion.
"He will not speak ill of
anybody," Barocas said. "It doesn't matter if he's playing against
someone that is trying to take his head off."
Tedeschi has grown to appreciate
the pressure that comes with being a Johns Hopkins recruit. He knows
the academic demands are steep and inflexible when it comes to
student-athletes.
He also knows that his abilities
will be scrutinized in every game he plays and opponents are eager to
size up the future Blue Jay.
"It keeps my head level,
especially playing, because you can't really get cocky about yourself,"
Tedeschi said. "You have to be confident, but you have to accept
the fact you're playing against kids that think you're not capable of
going (to Johns Hopkins) and you have something to prove."
|
