Christina Rego '24 Recruiting Profile

When I was around 18 months old, I started my soccer-playing journey at Super Soccer Stars in New York City. During my first encounters with this new sport, I was taught one of the most important rules of the game through song: never touch the ball with your hands. From then on, (for a few more years at least) I stuck to that rule. About seven and a half years later, I decided that I didn't agree with that rule and wanted to try something new. I did what every curious child does and, obviously, I picked the ball up with my hands. It was then that a new perspective of the game flooded me and I knew that I wanted to be a goalkeeper. 

This one day started me on the path that has led to the person I am today. Being a goalkeeper has brought me, new friends, taught me very important skills, showed me the beauty in our differences, and so much more. One specific thing that soccer has taught me is how to be a team player and put others first.  

My life has changed so much because of all the activities soccer has "kicked out". I used to be a competitive dancer, but putting my full attention into both of these activities was getting to be overly exhausting. In dance, everyone had to look the same and be the same, yet everyone was always competing with their own teammates to earn their solo moment. In soccer, the individual identity of players is important, but it is the differences in a team that makes them even stronger.  I thought about the things I have learned from each, but after months of contemplation, I realized that soccer was what brought me more joy and was better for me in the long term. 

So even though I quit dance to end up where I am today, I still love the Performing Arts. Every summer from 3rd - 8th grade I went to Ramapo Country Day Camp and performed in 11 of the Camp shows. I have also been in all of the Dwight Englewood Middle School Musicals, (Lion King, Once On This Island, and Children Of Eden) and have been in the High School Productions of Les Miserables in 5th grade; 10 Ways to Survive a Life in Quarantine and Working the Musical in 9th Grade; played Fastrada in Pippin during my sophomore year. Along with those productions, in 8th Grade, my show choir class was given the opportunity to perform the first reading of a Musical called Anne of Green Gables where I played the part of Marilla Cuthbert. I am not only a theatrical performer as I have been a part of my school's choir for 8 years, performing in a multitude of chorus concerts. Due to my commitment to the arts, I have also been given the opportunity to be a primary leader for both my high school's drama and a capella clubs. 

In all, you could compare my life to the Disney movie High School Musical because of my love of my sport while also enjoying performing on the stage. I believe that all of my talents have helped me become a person who has the ability to play and compete for a high-level College team, while also having the personality and leadership skills to make a difference in your program.

Some of my athletic (in all sports) achievements that are not shown on my profile are as follows:

1. Went as far as the ODP East Regional Player Pool Training every season that I played ODP soccer (2 yrs) 

2. Winning the ODP East Regional Championships 

3. Making the 1st Team All-League during my first High School Soccer Season (sophomore year due to freshman season being canceled because of the Covid-19 Pandemic)

4. Winning the 2019 State Cup (soccer)

5. Winning the South Hackensack Memorial Basketball tournament 2 years in a row

6. Qualifying for the World Dance Championship 2015 (dance)

Some of my academic achievements are as follows:

1. I won the Nicholas Trask Memorial Award in 2019 (an award gifted to 1-2 7th graders at Dwight Englewood School that show the traits of a former 7th-grade student voted on by their peers and presented to in front of the High School and Middle School)

2. I am in the 99th percentile for ERB testing

3. Have never gone below an A- average

4. Winning the 8th Grade performing arts award