THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 18, 1996 TAG: 9601180318
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA FARMER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
Carolyn Zanelli adds new meaning to the phrase ``zest for life.''
If the two-sport athlete has a low-point in her day, she hides it well. After her morning advanced placement classes, Zanelli hones her acting skills in studio theater before heading to the gym for two hours of basketball practice.
When she leaves practice, she goes home and runs four miles to stay in shape for indoor track.
Zanelli's grueling schedule would overwhelm some, but she thrives under the pressure.
For any doubters, look at last week's schedule. On Tuesday, Zanelli finished first in the 1,000-meter run and ran a leg on a 4x800-meter relay at an indoor track meet. She finished racing at 5 p.m., then streaked to the gym for her 5:15 pre-game basketball warmup. A half-hour later, Zanelli was on the way to scoring nine points as Bayside beat Ocean Lakes. Her dual performance earned her The Virginian-Pilot female Athlete of the Week award.
``That was the first time I've done both (in the same day),'' Zanelli said. ``Normally, I'll have basketball practice and then I'll go to a meet after that. My basketball coach, Mr. (Conrad) Parker, has been really good about that, letting me do both.''
Although indoor track meets usually zip along, the weather considerably slowed the pace Tuesday.
``It was sort of cold that day and I was frozen,'' Zanelli said. ``I didn't want to get in that little basketball uniform. I think my shot was a little off because I had run and my legs were tired, but other than that it didn't affect me.''
Her shot has not been off much this season. Zanelli is nearing the 1,000 career-point mark and is averaging 11.5 points, 3.5 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game. She leads the team in free throw shooting with a 71 percent success rate.
Zanelli began her track career pounding the pavement at Catholic Physical Fitness Day while she was attending St. Gregory's. The school is also where she uncovered her desire to act in theater, a path she may follow through college. She is considering attending Emerson College, a Division III performing arts college in Boston.
``I was interested in the school and it just happened that the basketball coach saw me this summer at a camp,'' Zanelli said. ``It seems like I've always wanted to do theater. I might major in public broadcasting and try theater. If it works out great and if not, I've got something to fall back on.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Carol Zanelli
by CNB