2021 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES

June 18, 2021

Zack Gelof

Virginia Cavaliers

Postgame Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We're joined by Zack Gelof.

ZACK GELOF: With everything that's been going on this past year, it makes it even more special. But just being here with the group of guys that we have and coaching staff and every member of this team, it's just something special and it's something that I've dreamed of since I was a little kid.

And wearing the V-Sabre across my chest, it means everything. I'm just excited to be here.

Q. Brian O'Connor has been to Omaha a bunch. I'm curious what kind of advice he's given to you guys about what it's going to be like to compete on this stage?

ZACK GELOF: You know, he's said a good amount. Obviously 2015, winning it all. But it just comes down to the little things. Obviously everyone's good here. And we all deserve to be here. But at the end of the game it's just going to be who executes the most, and that will be the winner.

Q. How do you all just kind of move past the initial awe of Omaha and just kind of get down to business these next few days?

ZACK GELOF: I think it's really important to have fun and enjoy it. I think this week is awesome being in the College World Series. But at the end of the day, you're here to win this thing.

So not being too serious, but just knowing that this is the, this is for the national championship. But having fun doing it is really important as well.

Q. You know your coach is from the area. But has he ever told you which person he is on that iconic statue outside? Do you know anything about that?

ZACK GELOF: I've heard. And I think I've seen which one he's supposed to be. But I don't know if he likes necessarily talking about it all the time. So, I haven't really asked anyone about it. But we were goofing around when we were taking pictures in front of the stadium, for sure.

Q. We've talked about it in the past about how you were out there playing in that tournament, you got to see UVA play in the College World Series in 2014. I know obviously that was where this all started for you. From that perspective, how special is it to get to Omaha now this year?

ZACK GELOF: Man, it's something special. I mean, especially with this group of guys and all that we've been through together. In 2014, that's obviously when I was here in Omaha watching the College World Series, and that's when I knew I wanted to be a Virginia Cavalier. And to get us back on track in this program and making the tournament, and not only that but winning the Regional and Super Regional and now being here, it's something special. Definitely going to have fun doing it, but the end goal is to win this thing. So we're going to try our best to do that.

Q. You came in with Nic Kent. He's a local kid. Have you used him or did you use him at all as a resource for where to go in Charlottesville, what to do, things like that?

ZACK GELOF: You're saying when I first got to UVA?

Q. Yes, exactly.

ZACK GELOF: Yeah, definitely. I mean, Nic was kind of like my best friend on the field. Obviously both played like every day. So just going through -- there's different relationships on this team, and me and him, I think the bond we have is special, just setting a goal freshman year to get Virginia back in the tournament, and we did that, obviously with everyone else included.

But it's just kind of special with the few bonds that different people have on this team. It makes it really special. So really happy about it.