"It's almost indescribable," said Fitzgerald, who got two starts in the Deacons' championship season. "The experience was unbelievable because of how close we all were. You put in so much hard work from spring workouts to the fitness in the summer and things like that, and to finally have it all culminate in a national championship is the ultimate."
Fitzgerald recalls the jubilation when the final whistle blew and still often looks at the post-game photos: "You can see how happy every single person is, whether they had the jersey on or not. ... It was total joy and happiness," he said.
After last season's upset loss to North Carolina in the semifinals, Fitzgerald has been on both sides of the spectrum. Both experiences left him wanting more.
Fitzgerald has this season and a fifth year of eligibility to help bring Wake Forest a second national championship. The Deacons are 5-2-1 this season, including two shutouts.
"Once you get a taste of it, you always want that same feeling," he said. "You understand how much work you have to put into it and how rare it is to get to that point. That drives you so much harder."
A regular on the dean's list, Fitzgerald is majoring in communication and plans to add a second major in psychology.
Alumni Report
Each Friday, The Baltimore Sun will catch up with a former area high school sports figure. In the spotlight today is former Loyola soccer player Akira Fitzgerald. To suggest former athletes or coaches to be considered for Alumni Report, please e-mail sports@baltsun.com .
