Romeo prepares for double duty

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Fred Romeo

By John Kovach

Westminster may need the Poland graduate for kicking and punting.

Fred Romeo of Poland may be called upon to do double duty as a placekicker and punter this season as a junior with the Westminster College football team, which opened camp last Wednesday in New Wilmington, Pa.

Romeo, the Titans’ regular placekicker during his first two seasons, is a candidate to replace Dusty Rhodes, a Niles native who graduated.

And if Romeo winds up doing both, he will be a rarity in the specialized world of college football.

“On a college level, they usually have specialists. It is not too often that they have people who do both,” said Romeo, the son of Fred and Kim Romeo of Poland.

But Romeo said he is up to the task.

“I placekicked and punted my senior year [at Poland], and my junior year I was just a placekicker. I do have the ability and capacity to punt on the college level. If they really needed someone to step in, I believe I can do it.”

Romeo was Westminster’s No. 4 scorer last season with 28 points, making 22-for-27 in extra points and 2-of-7 in field goals. Both field goals came in a 13-6 win over Allegheny in the season opener.

“I have not punted since high school,” Romeo said. “And we have a freshman, Trevor Young. I’m not sure if he is going placekick or punt. We have sophomore, Tom Holloman, and he also punts.”

Rhodes was an outstanding punter with a 39.6-yard average in 48 punts last year. He is a three-time selection to the all-Presidents’ Athletic Conference first team.

Romeo also will need a new holder on his placekicks, as Brett Meyers graduated.

Romeo also kicks off for Westminster; he averaged 52.9 yards off the tee last season.

“My strongest asset as a placekicker probably is my attitude,” said Romeo, who played two years of soccer at Poland, which he said prepared him to be a football kicker.

“I never had the strongest leg, but my ability to relax and handle pressure are pretty good. I really take a very lax approach toward it. I go out there to have fun. I’m pretty good, I think at least. I am pretty accurate within 40 yards.”

Romeo said he doesn’t always try for the longest punt but tailors his punts to the situation on the field.

“Instead of a high-spiraling kick, I will kick a directional kick to the corner so there would not be a return. That is the only difference,” Romeo said. “I try to mainly get off a good punt that rolls with no chance of a return.”

Romeo said he didn’t do much kick and punting practice this summer because he was busy doing a school-required internship in environmental engineering at First Energy in Akron in the Technologies Department.

“I did a lot of ... assessments for the company. I evaluated brand-new technologies that can be used in the electrical utility industry,” said Romeo, who is majoring in environmental science with a 3.4 grade-point average.

“I did an internship for advanced research. I get credit hours in addition to getting paid.”

Romeo has high hopes for this season. The Titans return 17 starters from last year’s team (5-5) in coach Jeff Hand’s fourth season at the helm.

“I think we will be pretty good. We have a lot of players back,” he said.

He also is looking forward to playing on Westminster’s new artificial turf, and not having to kick in the mud.

“It’s amazing compared to old Burry Field. It will make a world of difference. The weather will not be a factor in kicking the ball,” he said of the remodeled Harold Burry Stadium, a 58-year-old facility that now has new lighting, FieldTurf and an entrance plaza.

Romeo is one of 14 area players on the Titans’ roster that also includes junior safety Jim Petrolla (Poland), who started several games last year and should see a lot of duty this year.

The only two returning starters on the offensive line are sophomore guard Mike Kudelko from Sharpsville and junior Bill Altenhof (West Branch).

Kudelko started all 10 games at right guard last year and was named the team’s newcomer of the year. Altenhof started the final seven games at left guard.

One of the top returning defenders is Andrew Robison, a senior defensive end and all-PAC second-team pick last year from Wilmington.

kovach@vindy.com