Sophomore leads by example

It was the Illinois high school championship soccer game, and Jed Zayner, a young back who accepted nothing but the best, knew victory was within his grasp. The seconds counted down in the final half, and once his team finally captured the title, he was more than anxious to celebrate this accomplishment with his teammates.\nAgainst his mother's wishes, he left his home in Orland Park, Ill., to celebrate the night away. And that night would change his life forever. \nAlthough his mother did not contest to his going out late that night, he knew that she, a devout Christian woman, was against it. Once Zayner saw the look of disappointment in his mother's face when he returned, he decided he never wanted to make her feel that way again. \nZayner is more than a talented athlete for the IU men's soccer team; since that night during his high school senior year, he has become a devout Christian and strives to become the best in every field. \n"I want to be the best in everything," Zayner said, "or at least try my hardest to become better."\nIn high school, Zayner created his own chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and did not stop there. As a college freshman, he began holding Bible studies for his teammates. \n"I think the guys needed and wanted something else," Zayner said. "So I asked around, and they definitely were interested in the Bible study."\nZayner is also involved in the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, performing many community service projects in and around Bloomington. In fact this summer Zayner represented IU as one of the rare freshmen to attend a leadership conference for the SAAC. \nMajoring in communications and holding a 3.0 grade point average, Zayner was enrolled in an honors chemistry course his freshman year, feeling he must try to excel in the classroom to balance his performance on the field. \n"I go by the saying 'messy room, messy life,'" he said. "I feel that if one area of your life is not organized, then a chain reaction will follow and interrupt the other areas."\nZayner started every game for the national champion IU soccer team his freshman year. His ability to defend alters the play of opposing teams and eases the worries of the Hoosier coaching staff. \n"He holds us together in the back," IU coach Mike Freitag said. "When it comes to defending, he's one of the best." \nStanding at 5-foot-11 and weighing 165 lbs., Zayner intimidates contesting forwards, but the Hoosier sophomore has more than just talent on the field. He has a well-rounded character that many around him, like teammate and roommate sophomore Josh Tudela, are drawn to. \n"Jed would always tell the soccer guys that he couldn't go out with us on many occasions because of his study habits," Tudela said. "And he's always staying after practice to become a better athlete. This is why many of the older athletes look up to him and want to be as good as him." \nCoach Freitag said he also sees Zayner's glow. \n"He is an interesting guy that's not worried about being different," Freitag said. "He's not shy about his religious beliefs, and if I could describe Jed in two words, I would say 'strong and dedicated.'"\nZayner wants to be a leader on and off the field. His relationship with God is his key motivation for success, and he hopes to succeed in playing professional soccer and one day play in the World Cup.\nBut for now his goals are to succeed in the classroom and become a better athlete on the field while growing a stronger relationship with God. \n"Jed is definitely someone who people will be looking up to in the future," Tudela said. "He's given up all of the bad stuff that distracts many others and gives 100 percent to everything he does."\n-- Contact staff writer Ricardo Hernandez at rihernan@indiana.edu.