Rich DeMarco talks with the sophomore tennis player about his inspirational performance in Saturday's Star Match at Navy.
"Rommel is great improved and has matured. He has exceptional athletic ability. Look out." -Head Coach Jim Poling
2011-12: Quadrupled doubles wins total from a year ago while doing even better in singles play ... went 9-10 in dual-match singles play, spending most of the time at the No. 5 spot ... also went 3-0 at No. 3 ... won four of his final five contests ... lone setback was a hard-fought three-set loss to Navy's Nicholas Gutsche ... was named Army's Athlete of the Week following the loss for persevering through debilitating cramps ... performance garnered recognition from both Army and Navy leadership ... went 4-2 against Patriot League foes ... avenged regular-season loss to Gutsche by defeating the Midshipmen in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3, in conference title match ... also defeated Andrew Krentz of Lehigh in straight sets during the tournament ... went 14-11 in doubles matches, including 12-8 in dual play ... earned a 10-7 clip at No. 3 ... all 12 dual wins came alongside Alex Holland ... .600 winning percentage listed second on the team.
2010-11: Went 1-4 in fall season singles matches and 2-7 in dual matches ... defeated Connecticut's Dave Adams, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, at No. 4 on Feb. 12 ... won lone Patriot League singles match, topping Holy Cross' Ryan Sullivan, 6-4, 6-0, at No. 3 ... teamed with Henry Jang-Milsten for most of the fall season, owning a 4-3 record ... paired with Tripp Johnson at No. 1 for 8-3 win against Hofstra ... went 2-0 with Andrew Clark, winning 8-4 against Monmouth at No. 3 and 8-1 against Holy Cross at No. 2.
Personal: Son of Romulo and Phoebe Verano ... sister Robie graduated from West Point in 2011 and played for the women's tennis team ... brother Ron is a freshman on the men's tennis team ... four-year letterwinner at Edinburg ... state qualifier freshman and sophomore seasons ... likes to watch "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia", sing and jam out to a guitar in his free time ... systems management major.
