Tortorici ready for NCAA Regionals, life after Eastern
Thursday, May 26 2011 - NCAA Regional Championships - West Preliminary - Patrick TortoriciPat Tortorici said he's just like any other college student, albeit one that can run much faster than his peers.
The red-shirt senior hurdler has made the trip to Eugene, Ore. with nine of his track and field teammates to compete in the NCAA West Regionals.
The Elk Grove Village native is a first-team All-OVC 400-meter hurdler and holds the seventh-best 400-meter hurdle time in Eastern history with a time of 51.95 seconds.
At the OVC championships May 7 Tortorici took first place in the 400-meter hurdles, running a personal best time of 51.95 seconds.
The following week at the Twilight Relays in Louisville, Ky., he took first place again with a time of 52.07 seconds.
This is Tortorici's first trip to the NCAA Regionals, but he's accustomed to running under pressure.
"I'm excited, and at the same time it's kind of nerve-racking. I've ran in big meets before like the Drake Relays, so I'm used to the big crowds and all of the pressure," Tortorici said.
In the regionals, the top 48 individuals in an event qualify. Tortorici is ranked 33rd in the event, but is confident about his chances.
"I qualified, so I know I'm good enough to run with these guys," Tortorici said.
Tortorici is unlike many of his peers in another way. He already has a job lined up after college and has a clear idea of his goals.
Tortorici got his bachelor's degree in exercise science last year and is working on finishing his master's degree in sports administration this summer.
"I've got a gig lined up back home to work as a personal trainer at the Bally's Total Fitness in my town," Tortorici said. "But I'd like to get into coaching at a college or university. For a while, I thought about teaching and coaching, but I can't think of a subject I would like to teach. So, I'm hoping to get a job coaching college track, either long sprints or hurdles, my event."
The red-shirt senior has a heavy class load. When he's not studying or training, he likes to kick back and relax with his friends, playing video games.
It's hard for him to pick favorites when it comes to food or sports, two things he enjoys. Tortorici said he's a big Chicago Bears fan, although he admits "they've been making me mad the past few seasons."
If he had to pick a favorite team right now, he said it would be the Chicago Bulls.
"I like the Blackhawks too," Tortorici said. "My family is made up of Cubs fans, so I guess I'm a Cubs fan too, but baseball is too slow for me. I guess I'm a Chicago fan, in general".
When it comes to food, Tortorici hesitated to answer.
"When it comes to going out for good food, its pizza," Tortorici said. "Or Italian beef."
The Chicago area native will be taking his talents to the NCAA Regionals Friday through Saturday to compete in the 400-meter hurdles, but he will not be the only Panther in the event.
Red-shirt senior Kris Gehrke, ranked 48th in the event, will also be running with Tortorici.
Joe Long can be reached at 581-7942 or densportsdesk@gmail.com.
The red-shirt senior hurdler has made the trip to Eugene, Ore. with nine of his track and field teammates to compete in the NCAA West Regionals.
The Elk Grove Village native is a first-team All-OVC 400-meter hurdler and holds the seventh-best 400-meter hurdle time in Eastern history with a time of 51.95 seconds.
At the OVC championships May 7 Tortorici took first place in the 400-meter hurdles, running a personal best time of 51.95 seconds.
The following week at the Twilight Relays in Louisville, Ky., he took first place again with a time of 52.07 seconds.
This is Tortorici's first trip to the NCAA Regionals, but he's accustomed to running under pressure.
"I'm excited, and at the same time it's kind of nerve-racking. I've ran in big meets before like the Drake Relays, so I'm used to the big crowds and all of the pressure," Tortorici said.
In the regionals, the top 48 individuals in an event qualify. Tortorici is ranked 33rd in the event, but is confident about his chances.
"I qualified, so I know I'm good enough to run with these guys," Tortorici said.
Tortorici is unlike many of his peers in another way. He already has a job lined up after college and has a clear idea of his goals.
Tortorici got his bachelor's degree in exercise science last year and is working on finishing his master's degree in sports administration this summer.
"I've got a gig lined up back home to work as a personal trainer at the Bally's Total Fitness in my town," Tortorici said. "But I'd like to get into coaching at a college or university. For a while, I thought about teaching and coaching, but I can't think of a subject I would like to teach. So, I'm hoping to get a job coaching college track, either long sprints or hurdles, my event."
The red-shirt senior has a heavy class load. When he's not studying or training, he likes to kick back and relax with his friends, playing video games.
It's hard for him to pick favorites when it comes to food or sports, two things he enjoys. Tortorici said he's a big Chicago Bears fan, although he admits "they've been making me mad the past few seasons."
If he had to pick a favorite team right now, he said it would be the Chicago Bulls.
"I like the Blackhawks too," Tortorici said. "My family is made up of Cubs fans, so I guess I'm a Cubs fan too, but baseball is too slow for me. I guess I'm a Chicago fan, in general".
When it comes to food, Tortorici hesitated to answer.
"When it comes to going out for good food, its pizza," Tortorici said. "Or Italian beef."
The Chicago area native will be taking his talents to the NCAA Regionals Friday through Saturday to compete in the 400-meter hurdles, but he will not be the only Panther in the event.
Red-shirt senior Kris Gehrke, ranked 48th in the event, will also be running with Tortorici.
Joe Long can be reached at 581-7942 or densportsdesk@gmail.com.