The Cardinal Gibbons senior has been through a lot, and clearly emerged as a stronger person overall.
Rachel Bartolomeo can write a book about what it's like to be a high school runner. Moved from one city and school to another during her career? Check. Knows what it's like to suffer from, and recover from, a running injury? Check. Has been a team leader and a state champion? Check. If you want to know about the kind of perseverance, character, and determination that it takes to remain a top-flight runners despite some pretty major adversity, just ask this young lady. Through it all, she remains just as pleasant as the day I first met her as a Charlotte Catholic runner (though she is way more confident now!). When healthy, she is a force to be reckoned with, and she is already elevating the level of her teammates, both in practice and in competition.
Rachel Bartolomeo's Athlete Profile