HPU Student Doing It All To Succeed
What hasn't Angelo Petruccy Done to secure himself a successfull career?
Petruccy (left) met with ABC journalist, Byron Pitts during his visit to HPU along with highschool and college classmate Kyle Rossenburger (right). (Photo: Dr. Ginny McDermott
By Nick Zoraian
Campus Chonicle
HIGH POINT, N.C.- When Angelo Petruccy is not practicing play-by-play sports announcing, he is leading his club soccer team to a national championship.
Petruccy is one of the three captains who helped the team qualify for the National Tournament this season. Petruccy’s club soccer team will be playing in the National tournament in Foley, Ala., from Nov 28 to Dec 1. Petruccy has been passionate about soccer since he was young.
“I’ve played soccer since I was 8, it made me who I am today so I always give it my all out on the field.” Petruccy said.
Petruccy, a junior, is majoring in Sport Communications while minoring in Journalism at High Point University. When not on the soccer field, Petruccy spends his time preparing and executing his weekly radio show, The Dale Tailgate Show.
“I’d love to use all my experience to eventually commentate over live soccer games.”
Petruccy continued. “I’m very aware that I need to have a background before then. So I believe that specifically, the journalism minor will give me the opportunity to write about sports and be knowledgeable about them.”
At 12 years old Petruccy traded the striker boots for the goal keeping gloves. He still plays goal keep to this day.
“The competition caught up to me and the goals dried up, so I switched to my next best position, arguably the most important position on the field.”
Goalkeepers must have excellent leadership skills and great confidence to succeed. These skills are also reflected in other aspects of Petruccy’s life.
Petruccy knew he wanted to pursue a sports broadcasting career as early as high school. Petruccy did a six-month internship with The Catholic Review during his sophomore year of high school. He worked directly under the editor of the paper, Paul MacMullen, who covered sports for the Baltimore Sun for more than 20 years.
MacMullen had great things to say about Petruccy.
“Angelo was one of the youngest interns we have ever had but he was also one of our best,” MacMullen said. “I could always tell that he was going to go on to have a career in sports media. His passion for that internship was a dead giveaway.”
Petruccy with his co-hosts before an airing of the Dale Tailgate Show (Photo: Will Mooney)
Petruccy played soccer and tennis in high school as well as worked for the admissions office and the youth ministries office for his school.
Petruccy’s younger sister, Francesca,15, commented on Petruccy's interest in sports.
“Angelo has always been a sports guy. He would come home from practice and watch sports on TV, and when he couldn’t do that he would talk about them with our dad.”
Petruccy has been participating in Model United Nations since high school. He is now vice president of the Model United Nations club at HPU.
“It’s really special that I am able to be one of the officers for the club at HPU,” Petruccy said. “The skills I’ve learned through this club will help me succeed in whatever career I end up with.”
Petruccy is grateful of all that HPU has to offer in terms of preparing himself for the real-world. Petruccy works for University Recreation at HPU. He works as both a referee and a site manager.
AT A GLANCE
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Major: Sports Communication
Club: Model United Nations, VP
Job: HPU Recreation Site Manager/ Ref
Experience: Catholic Review, Baltimore, MD., high school internship
Dale Talegate Show, HPU, radio show
He uses his knowledge of soccer to referee for Division 1 women’s soccer. As site manager he is in charge of scheduling intramural games and other rec events.
“It’s an unbelievable experience. HPU has given me so many opportunities to get real life experience. This is one of the many I have taken advantage of.”
Petruccy has seized almost every opportunity that is available to him. He is involved in Sports-Link, an organization at HPU that broadcasts live D1 games for ESPN+, HPU News, Triad Sports Update.
“It’s great that HPU has all these things to offer," he said. “I really gain some valuable on camera experience, which prepares me for my dream job.”
Petruccy is very enthusiastic about his radio show.
“The Dale Tailgate show is a really the best hands on experience. I’m completely in charge of the content that goes on the show,” he said. “and it’s a real show with real listeners so it gives me the opportunity to adapt and make changes to make my show better and gain listeners”
You can often find Petruccy watching sports when he has downtime. To relax, Petruccy likes to watch a lot of TV series like Survivor, The Challenge and Big Brother.
Petruccy also has a website to help show people who he is. On this site he keeps a weekly sports blog that mainly focuses of professional soccer. He writes about the hottest takes in sports and soccer.
To learn more about Petruccy’s work experience and read his blog visit