When the team’s season ended in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament with a 4-1 loss against TCU, Gores thought his injury-plagued career had come to a close.
He suffered an ankle injury during his first year on campus, causing him to redshirt that season. After playing the next season, the recurring injury caused him to miss his third season as well.
When he returned to Chapel Hill this past fall, he planned to finish his few remaining classes before heading into a job this summer as an investment analyst in Washington, D.C.
But after talking with his coaches, Gores realized he had one year of eligibility remaining.
This left him facing a tough decision. With the team talented from top to bottom, he would have to fight to gain a roster spot.
“I told him I couldn’t make him any guarantees at all as far as starting or anything like that,” Coach Sam Paul said. “To really think about, do you want to go through this again, and stick around and work and put everything into it?”
Gores decided he did.
“I thought we were going to get rid of him after last year,” said junior Ronnie Schneider, who has known Gores for four years. “Couldn’t quite do it, so he’s around for another go.”