Speed is what sets Talan Zenk apart. It’s what put his name in the record books.

Earlier in the season, Zenk etched his name into EvCC history by breaking the previous all-time record of 39 stolen bases and setting a new mark for future players to chase.

Since then, the sophomore outfielder has shattered that record with 77 career stolen bases, establishing himself as one of the most dangerous runners in Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC).

The 20-year-old from Brier, Washington became a key player for the No. 1-seeded Trojans in the NWAC standings.

Despite his resume as one of the fastest players in the conference, Zenk describes himself as someone completely different off the field. “I would say I’m a pretty chill guy, I like to watch sports, hang out with some friends, nothing too special about me,” he said.

Growing up, Zenk didn’t always see baseball as his future; he had his eyes on another sport.

“I actually wanted to play basketball when I was younger. I played basketball ‘til about junior year of high school and I decided that baseball is something I wanted to do.“

Once baseball became his focus, he began developing the skills that would eventually make him one of the top players in the NWAC.

“I would say hitting and confidence. I think speed’s always kind of been there from basketball and football and just being a kid running around but hitting in confidence it goes hand in hand,” Zenk said.

“If confidence is there, hitting baseball is one of the hardest things to do and if you’re not believing yourself it’s near impossible.”

One of the biggest influencers on his development was his father who was drafted in the 42nd round of the 1996 MLB Draft and coached Zenk throughout his childhood.

“My dad’s always been there and helped me out throughout the years,” he said. “At times he was a coach, other times he was a supportive parent, he’s obviously tough on me but I knew it was for the my best even if I didn’t appreciate it in the moment.”

While his father pushed him to follow in his footsteps, Zenk never let that pressure get in the way of his ability to work hard every day.

“He was definitely hard on me, and he knew what I was capable of even if I wasn’t at such a young age,” Zenk said.

“He definitely pushed me to be the best person I can become.”

Before joining EvCC baseball in 2024, Zenk built an impressive resume at Mountlake Terrace High School.

As a sophomore in 2021-22, he hit .267 with 16 hits, 19 runs scored, 15 RBIs, five doubles, two home runs and 10 stolen bases in 25 games.

He followed that with a breakout junior season in 2022-23, batting .477 with 21 hits, 16 runs scored, 12 RBIs, four doubles, one home run and 19 stolen bases in 17 games.

Zenk capped off his high school career batting .406 with 26 hits, 20 runs scored, 27 RBIs, five doubles, two home runs and 14 stolen bases in 21 games.

Although, he’ll never forget his last at-bat that made his last game so special.

“It was my last high school game, my last at-bat. It was 5 to 10 and I hit a grand slam (that) brought us within one (run),” Zenk said.

“We ended up losing that game. It was kind of a sweet ending.”

Looking back at those years, Zenk reflects on the biggest lessons he learned.

“I would say just having fun with the game, there’s only four years of high school, just going out and making the most out of those years,” he said.

When it came to choosing where to go after high school, Everett felt like the right fit for him.

“I’ve known Eli (Konsker) for about a year and a half before I got here. That was a big decision,” Zenk said.

“Staying home, I knew Ryan Sells, he obviously talked about it well and just a winning history. I also had some friends go in here, so it all kind of seemed to work out very well, somewhere I could succeed.”

Since arriving at Everett, Zenk has continued to elevate his game.

He played in 50 games this season where he hit .305 with 49 runs scored, 26 RBI’s, and 44 stolen bases, showcasing both his consistency at the plate and his impact on the basepaths.

Speed is something Zenk uses to his advantage, but he uses a lot of tendencies to get the job done.

“Counts, knowing when they might throw a curveball, something slower, guys that are higher leg kicks. I can have a little bit more leeway but guys that are quicker I really need a good jump,” he said.

Despite setting the stolen base record, Zenk said he tries not to focus too much on individual accomplishments. “It doesn’t really come to me. The accolades are cool and everything, but I feel like winning it all means a lot more.”

Instead, he focuses on being close with his fellow teammates around him.

“I would say it’s the relationships that I’ve been building. The bonds with 40 guys playing 50 games,” Zenk said. “We started this season in September, having our ‘hell week’ and just going through it all together, nothing better than to win it all with your friends.”

As one of the leaders on the team, Zenk puts a lot of pride into helping new teammates adjust to college ball.

“Teammate that I try to be with half of our roster coming in and being freshmen, just kind of getting them used to college baseball and encouraging them.”

The mental side of baseball is something that Zenk has learned to embrace.

“The mental toll, people don’t really realize guys can go three for 10. Your failings 70% of the time, and with our 50-game season it’s a lot,” Zenk said.

Zenk still keeps a positive attitude knowing how difficult this game can be.

“Definitely go out there and play every day, every game. We might not have it one day so you got to keep going with it,” Zenk said. “Believing in yourself is honestly one of the hardest parts when times get tough.”

That same mindset has helped him succeed in pressure situations throughout his career.

“Just the work that I put in, I’ve been playing baseball for a long time, there’s no reason to be scared of the moment. You get out of it, you’re a hero,” he said.

“All the pressure, it’s really nothing. If we go on to win the game then it’s the best feeling ever.”

Zenk credits his former high school coach Ryan Sells for what he’s learned from him during his time with Mountlake Terrace Hawks.

“I love Ryan Sells. He taught me a bunch about Everett, the grind that comes with being a JUCO baseball player and the long seasons,” Zenk said. “He told me to stick with it, have fun and you’re going to go somewhere good after this but make the time out of JUCO it’s going to be your best years.”

Sells said Zenk’s impact went beyond what he did on the field.

“Talan is special,” he said. “Everything he brought to the table in terms of work ethic, showing up, knowing how to prepare, knowing how to get the job done.”

Sells also talked about Zenk’s leadership skills and how he connected with his teammates.

“He was very present, very vocal, and a great leader,” Sells said. “Talan brought a lot of intangibles to the game of baseball, but his character is what really got me.”

What stood out to Sells the most was how Zenk stayed positive during games, which can often bring a lot of frustration.

“I thought the special part was him being a great teammate,” Sells said. “To have a guy like that on your team where you can look up to and not see when he’s frustrated, I think that’s huge.”

Sells, who was inducted into the EvCC Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025, knows what success looks like. He was a standout two-way player for the Trojans in 2012.

Sells went 8-1 with a 1.67 ERA on the mound while also hitting .416 in the batters box in nine games, earning NWAC Most Valuable Player honors before taking his talents to Lewis-Clark State College.

As both an Everett alumnus and someone who also grew up in Brier, Washington, Sells said it meant a lot to see Zenk continue his baseball career with the Trojans.

“Leading into Everett, that was special, me being an alumni, him following in my footsteps,” Sells said.

“He was able to put himself on a platform where he could make those decisions for himself in terms of where he wanted to go. I feel very proud to be able to say that he was able to be a Trojan, and the rest follows.”

Sells added that players like Zenk do not come around often.

“There’s not a lot of guys like Talan; it’s like having an all-star within a high school team,” he said. “When he told me he was going to Everett CC I really loved that. I felt really proud.”

Looking ahead, Zenk is focused on finding the right four-year college where he can pursue a degree in accounting while continuing his baseball career.

“I want to go into accounting,” Zenk said. “Playing-wise, I’m gonna do it as long as I can, maybe professionally but getting a degree out of it would be a big thing.”