As an N.C. State fan growing up in nearby Apex, N.C., Andie Cozzarelli always thought she would be running down loose balls for the N.C. State women’s soccer team, not running trails for the cross country team. But fast-forward to the present and it is clear that the change of fortunes has turned out favorably for the former three-sport standout at Apex High School.
After having two subpar seasons by her own standards, the junior has finally emerged into one of the Wolfpack’s top runners. In her three races this season, Cozzarelli finished seventh at the Wolfpack Invite, 38th at the Roy Griak Invitational and 37th at the NCAA Pre-Nationals, which was the second-best finish among the team.
Cozzarelli’s success this year should come as no surprise. In high school, she finished runner-up at the North Carolina 4-A Cross Country Championships an unprecedented four straight years. Cozzarelli had better luck in track and field, winning a combined five individual state championships in the 1,600 and 3,200-meter events.
After watching Cozzarelli perform in high school, Wolfpack coach Laurie Henes said she has been pleased to witness the development of Cozzarelli since joining State three years ago.
“It’s really nice to see a local kid have the kind of jump she’s had,” Henes said. “That’s what is supposed to happen at this level though; you’re supposed to take kids who were pretty good in high school and get them to be really good in college. It’s great to see that happening for her because she puts a lot into it, does everything we ask, and its nice to see it has been paying off for her.”
With the resume Cozzarelli assembled over the course of her high school career, the Apex native could choose virtually any school she wanted to attend, but chose to join the Wolfpack.
“When I started looking at schools for running, I looked mainly at Clemson and State,” Cozzarelli said. “When it came down to it though, I just felt more at home here.”
Even though her childhood dream of playing soccer for the Pack was out of reach, it’s no mystery why Cozzarelli felt so comfortable joining State’s program, after all, she was a Wolfpack fan growing up.
“When my family moved here [to Raleigh], I immediately became an N.C. State fan,” Cozzarelli said. “I remember when I was younger, I always wanted go to State to play soccer; that was my goal. But I’m happy where I am right now running for State.”
One of the biggest obstacles Cozzarelli has had to deal with in her collegiate career has been coping with Celiac disease. Since last October, she has been forced to adopt a gluten-free diet by avoiding foods that contain the protein gluten, which is typically found in wheat foods like bread and pasta.
“I talked to the nutritionist about how I was always feeling sick and having stomach aches my freshman year,” Cozzarelli said. “It turned out it was Celiac disease. We later found out that my grandma actually has Celiac disease and it’s hereditary. Immediately after I changed my diet [to gluten-free], I felt a completely drastic difference in how I feeling.”
Despite her athletic ability, perhaps Cozzarelli’s most profound asset is her beaming personality, according to teammate Halsy Merritt.
“Andie is a fun girl to hang out with,” Merritt said. “She has a good head on her shoulders and never does anything to compromise her training, which is really good. She has a great personality and is always fun to be around.”
Cozzarelli and Merritt will both play vital roles as the team lines up for the ACC Championships on Saturday in Boston, Mass.
