September 4, 2008

CALGARY – The newest member of the University of Calgary Dinos field hockey team is ahead of her time.

Carolina Romeo is just 15 years old, but her resume would indicate otherwise. An honours student in high school, a recipient of the highest academic entrance award available at the University of Calgary, and a phenomenal all-around athlete, Romeo can now add one more to her list of accomplishments – the youngest athlete in history to compete for the University of Calgary Dinos.

Romeo will turn 16 on Sept. 14, one day after the Dinos’ first field hockey game of the 2008 season. She joins a select group; only one other athlete on record has competed in Canadian Interuniversity Sport competition at the age of 15. Bruce Firestone, the founder of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, entered McGill University as a 15-year-old in 1967, playing soccer for the Redmen. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 1972.

Age is not the only thing Romeo has in common with Firestone; she will follow in his academic footsteps as well, beginning classes in the Schulich School of Engineering next Monday.

A native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Carolina moved to Canada with her family at the age of eight in 2000, able to speak little English. In just eight years, she was at the top of her class – actually, the top of the class two years ahead of her – at Centennial High School in south Calgary and earning significant scholarship money to attend U of C.

Romeo is a recipient of the Chancellor’s Club scholarship, the highest academic honour available to entering students at the University of Calgary. Ten scholarships are awarded each year at $10,000 each, renewable for up to three additional years for a total value of $40,000. Students must have a minimum of an 88 per cent admission average to receive the scholarship and must also have demonstrated an exceptional contribution to school and/or community life, leadership, and volunteerism.

Romeo was Centennial’s representative in the Calgary Herald’s annual ‘Class Act’ feature, which profiles exceptional high school graduates from across the city. She described her life in high school as ‘a balancing act,’ juggling her studies, her athletic pursuits, and her other passions. And that demonstration of time management skills is exactly in line with the multifaceted educational approach of the University of Calgary.

“We encourage our students to explore outside interests and take part in various activities on campus. Athletics is about teamwork and leadership, skills engineers need to be successful,” said Dr. Elizabeth Cannon, dean of the Schulich School of Engineering. “We’re proud of all our students and excited that Carolina is joining us. We look forward to her contributions as a Dinos athlete and as a student at the Schulich School of Engineering.”

Despite the obvious focus on her studies, Romeo found the time to play both field hockey and ringette at a high level, often competing with athletes several years her senior. She took up field hockey just two years ago but quickly showed an aptitude for the game, progressing through various provincial and national developmental programs.

She played for the senior provincial field hockey team in 2007 as a 14-year-old, winning the national championship, and served as captain for the U16 provincial teams in 2007 and 2008. In March 2008 she attended the invite-only national U23 development camp, where she was the youngest athlete present.

Romeo was also named the winner of the Carol Ericson Award, which is handed out annually to the most outstanding field hockey player coming out of the Calgary high school system.

“I’m very proud to have Carolina, as are her teammates,” said Dinos coach Jenn Swagar, the 2007 Canada West coach of the year. “She is as highly athletic as she is excellent with her academics. Judging by recent fitness testing, even at her young age, her athleticism ranks at the top of the group.”

In ringette, she was selected as one of the top 36 players in Western Canada and made it past the first round of cuts for the U19 Canada West team. Her brother, Miguel, plays varsity soccer at the University of Victoria.

Romeo and the Dinos open the 2008 field hockey season on Saturday, Sept. 13 against the Alberta Pandas at Hawkings Field, just west of the Olympic Oval. Game time is 1 p.m.