East Lake grad a Syracuse success

Starting for a Division I football team is not the norm for a freshman.

Nor is it usual to make the honor roll every semester of school.

Nick Romeo (East Lake) achieved both at Syracuse University.

After being red-shirted in 1999, his first year, Romeo has started every game at center for a total of 42 up to this weekend's game with Pittsburgh.

While earning his degree in mechanical engineering in 2003, Romeo earned a 3.5 GPA. This year, Romeo is working on a master's in engineering management and has a 4.0.

"Playing football and going to school is like having two full-time jobs," Romeo, 22, said. "Even in high school, it was tough at times. Doing both takes a lot of effort, time management and dedication to what you want. I've been fortunate to be able to balance the two."

Romeo's efforts in the classroom have earned him Big East All-Academic Team three times.

On the field, Romeo's consecutive starts streak is the fifth longest of any offensive lineman in the nation. He's on track to tie the school record of 49 set by Donovan McNabb during 1995-1998.

"I've been pretty durable, which I believe is due to the conditioning we do," Romeo, said. "It certainly helps to have the strength and flexibility.

"When I visited Syracuse during my senior year at East Lake, they were looking at me to play defensive tackle. Then, they asked if I wanted to play center. Even though I'm a little shorter than the average center, my strength and ability to leverage has been effective."

Romeo, 6-foot-1 and 297 pounds, and the rest of the line have limited quarterback sacks to five in six games while accruing the nation's ninth-best rushing average of 223.5 yards per game.

Romeo realized in high school that he liked weightlifting and bench-pressed his way to back-to-back state championships.

"That was a great accomplishment for me and later I realized how much that could help me in football," Romeo said. "In college football, the bigger, the better."

Romeo was always big for his age and elected not to play football as a youth because of his size. Not wanting to play against others several years older, Romeo played baseball and soccer until he entered his freshman year of high school. After one junior varsity season Romeo was moved to varsity.

"In high school, you learn the basics of football and in college it gets more complicated," Romeo said. "College is more involved. On the offensive line, you have to recognize the defense and know how to set up for protection. There are different blocking schemes for different plays and you still have to consider 10 different defensive teams."

Romeo is keeping his options open, including any potential chance at the NFL.

MORE FOOTBALL: For the third consecutive game, Emmett Hunter (Seminole) rushed for more than 150 yards for Jacksonville. In a 30-0 win over Austin Peay, Hunter gained 199 yards.

D'Qwell Jackson (Seminole) led Maryland with nine tackles in the Terps' 21-7 victory over Clemson. Jackson collected a sack.

TENNIS: Notre Dame sophomore Kelly Nelson (Shorecrest) won the red flight doubles with Liz Donohue of South Dakota and placed third in singles in the Kentucky Fall Classic.

Nelson was one of seven players chosen for the International Tennis Association Scholar Athlete Award.

Florida State senior transfer Nicole Cercone (Seminole/Seton Hall) teamed with Alina Mihaelescu to win the doubles in the Roberta Allison Fall Classic.

FSU junior transfer Natalie Tirapelli (Canterbury/Connecticut) collected her first win of the season in the same tournament.

Miner leads the Owls in kills with 246.

- News for this column may be faxed to Nancy Morgan, 445-4119, e-mailed to namgamma@gte.net or sent to 710 Court St., Clearwater, Fla. 33756. Please include phone number.

Click here for the Neighborhood Times Social Calendar

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times 490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 Contact the Times | Privacy Policy Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright