“She’s unstoppable,” says Mark Goodwin, Bethel High School athletic director about Cristina Romano. Romano, a senior at Bethel High School, made All-State Field Hockey 2010. All State is when high school players are recognized for being the best in the state. Romano played a great season, though many obstacles surfaced. She has been playing field hockey since her freshman year and had a successful four years.

Goodwin describes All-State as, “If you make one level your name gets put forward to a big list. There are four classes and select a certain number to recognize as the best in that division. Cristina was recognized as one of the best in Class M for field hockey.”

Romano’s efforts were well appreciated by everyone on her team. The head field hockey coach Kathleen McGowan said about her, “Cristina is one of the best players I have ever coached. She always gave 110%. I knew that I could always count on her to get the job done. She is very fast and has excellent stick skills. Cristina was a role model for the underclassmen. She always encouraged her teammates and led by example.”

“The only one who can tell you ‘you can’t ‘ is you. You have to go above and beyond and do what’s impossible. Take every practice, every scrimmage, and every game like it’s your last, you have to play as if your life is on the line that’s what I do. You gotta put 100% of effort in minute you have on that field,” says Cristina Romano about field hockey.

Freshman player Deana Weiner says, “Cristina Romano is a great field hockey player, role model, and friend. She played hard and really deserves all-state.”

“She puts her heart into the game and always gives her all. I hope I can play as well as her when I’m a senior. I will really miss her when she leaves, hopefully she’ll come visit us whenever she can,” adds sophomore field hockey player Nikki Meadows.

But success has not come without its consequences. Romano has suffered over seven concussions since she started playing, and other injuries this year. “This past season Cristina broke a bone in her hand but played through it. She is one of the toughest athletes I have ever met. She suffered from two concussions last year, both when she was “flying” on corner plays, so I moved her over to trail one this season. We could not afford to play without her so I did not want to risk another head injury.”

Not only was her performance amazing, but her stats were unbelievable. Goodwin says, “She is a very good athlete all around. As a player she has good endurance.” This season Romano had her eyes on the prize, she scored one goal and played phenomenal defense.

Romano’s field hockey career went farther than just Bethel High School. Coach McGowan said, “She played indoor field hockey and played for the Connecticut Revolution, a club team. Cristina was also interested in making the field hockey program better. She volunteered her time at a summer camp to help raise money to start a middle school field hockey team.”