Athlete Spotlight: James Wood Golfer Roger Repasky

Posted: September 11, 2013

James Wood High School 16-year-old junior

Parents: Ron and Maureen Repasky

Hometown: Winchester

What you love about golf: I love the whole concept of the game. I love the competition. I love the feeling of hitting a good shot.

Biggest strength and weakness in golf: [Strength], my length. I can usually drive it 280, 290 [yards]. [Weakness], consistency. Approach shots from 150 and in. That’s something I’m working on.

Funniest person on your team: Peyton Crickman. He tells a lot of funny jokes, and his personality is hilarious.

Most memorable moment in golf: At the Skyline Invitational last year I had a four-hole playoff, and I went par-par-birdie-par [to win]. There was all the kids from all the other schools in the district watching, so winning that was a memorable moment.

Most embarrassing moment in golf: Probably when I was 6 or 7 years old playing at the [Winchester] Country Club, when I took a 12 on a hole.

Favorite athlete: [Former Baltimore Orioles and Hall of Fame shortstop] Cal Ripken. He’s just a heckuva player. All the records he broke and the amount of games that he played. He’s just a great role model and an incredible athlete.

Favorite sports team: Cleveland Indians. My whole family lineage is from Cleveland. I’m the first one actually born in Winchester — my older brother was born in Cleveland.

Three people you can have dinner with, dead or alive:[Former president] Ronald Reagan, [golfer] Adam Scott and [golfer] Jack Nicklaus. Ronald Reagan is my favorite president. Ilove his philosophies, I love his politics. Jack Nicklaus is the best golfer who ever lived, most majors won. Adam Scott, for one I love his swing, and I love the fact he won the Masters in the playoff against Angel Cabrera. I thought that was great. They’re all great guys.

Favorite Quote: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” — [Former James Wood baseball coach] Jared Mounts used to say that a lot.

Favorite place to eat in town: Cafe Del Sol, definitely. They have the best of a lot of things in my opinion — best pizza, best sandwiches, Italian food, everything.

Pregame routine/ritual: I usually just go to the range, hit some balls, putt, hit some more balls, then putt again, and then tee off.

Plans after high school: I definitely want to be a pilot. I definitely want to go someplace south, preferably Florida, South Carolina, play golf, and then go to a flight school down there. Or a place like Florida Tech or Embry-Riddle, where I can play golf and fly. My grandpa flew little planes, Cessnas, and I’ve always been interested in the concept of aviation.

— Compiled by Robert Niedzwiecki