Three-Pillar Candidate: Alexa Romano is winning on and off the court

Ben Rohrbach, usatodayhss.com, January 21, 2015

Each season, Gatorade recognizes one student-athlete from each of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. who embodies its Player of the Year program’s three pillars: athletic production, academic achievement and exemplary character.

Each week during its Gatorade State Player of the Year selection process, USA TODAY surfaces one candidate who meets those criteria and deserves recognition as a serious Gatorade State Player of the Year contender.

Name: Alexa Romano
School: La Cueva (Albuquerque, N.M.)
Sport: Girls Basketball
Class: Senior

Athletic Production: Romano knows the feeling of winning a state championship, just not on a basketball court, so the 5-foot-9 senior guard is doing everything within her power to change that this season.

As a member of La Cueva’s track team, Romano captured the 2012 Class 5A individual state title in the 400-meter dash with a time of 56.89 seconds as a freshman and the 2014 long jump crown with an effort of 17 feet, 10.5 inches as a junior this past spring.

That athleticism has translated wonderfully to the basketball court, where the Stanford-bound Romano earned New Mexico High School Coaches Assocation Class 5A Player of the Year honors last season and Class 5A Defensive Player of the Year honors as a sophomore in 2013.

She came within two victories of a state title on the hardcourt as a sophomore and led the Bears to the state quarterfinals last season.

As a senior, she has averaged 20 points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists per game, leading La Cueva (10-4) to another solid start. With only a month remaining in the final year of a remarkable prep career, she sure would like to add a hoop trophy alongside her track medals before competing for national titles with the Cardinal.

Academic Achievement: Romano has maintained an A average.

Exemplary Character: An accomplished pianist, she has volunteered locally on behalf of her church, multiple homeless shelters, the Special Olympics and the Spanish National Honor Society.