He broke onto the scene with two split-dodge goals – one lefty and one from the right hand – in his first collegiate game against the University of Virginia on February 6, 2014. What came after that has been the development of a lacrosse player into one who has played four professional seasons since graduating from Loyola University Maryland.
 
This week's Alum Spotlight, presented by The Mount Washington Tavern, features former men's lacrosse All-Patriot League midfielder Romar Dennis '17.
 
The Huntingtown, Maryland, native ended his Loyola career with 55 goals and 30 assists. This summer, he was a member of the Premier Lacrosse League's Atlas LC. In addition to continuing his lacrosse career, Dennis continues to be a strong voice on promoting social justice, particularly through inclusion, sport and allyship.
 

Take us back to the beginning… how did you start playing lacrosse, and what got you hooked on it?
 
I started playing lacrosse simply because my older brother Roberto (I call him Junior) was playing. Lacrosse has always been the sport to play in Maryland, so that influence must have gotten to him first. There was so much good college lacrosse near me growing up, and once I started going to Division I games, I was hooked.
 
Sports have always been a big part of your family with your dad playing Minor League Baseball and your older brother also being a lacrosse player. How much did all of that help in your development as an athlete?
 
My dad's time in the Yankees farm system and his time playing for the Panama U-21 National soccer team were vital in my lacrosse career. He understood what kind of commitment it took to excel at each level you compete at. Once I got to middle school, my dad became my personal trainer, and he committed to watching as much high-level lacrosse as he could to further understand the game. What stuck with me most were my dad's sports idioms that can be universal to any sport; like, "Your coach should never have to tell you to hustle."
 
You came out in your first collegiate game at Virginia and had two goals and by the end of the season, you were on the first midfield on the No. 1 ranked team in the country. What was that first season like for you?
 
That first season at Loyola was surreal to me. I had always dreamed of playing with and against the programs that used to always dominate college lacrosse and play on TV. To be a part of our program and be able to contribute from as early as my first game as a freshman was really a dream come true. The message to all freshmen was to read the scouting report, take care of your body, visualize making plays, etc., as if you are going to play tomorrow. So, when that opportunity came to life, I felt prepared.
  
What are some off-the-field takeaways that you had from your time with Loyola lacrosse?

 
My most important takeaway from Loyola lacrosse had to be the ability to prioritize, multi-task, and be resourceful. Every challenge which was thrown my way, I felt like there were resources in place for me to utilize; I just had to be proactive and find them. When a class became difficult, the tutor system was easy to navigate. When I struggled with my strength and conditioning, I developed a relationship with our strength trainers that continued over the summer. The ability to exhaust all options has changed the way I view challenges indefinitely.
 
You broke into pro lacrosse and have been with the PLL each of the last two years. How has the game continued to be a passion for you?
 
I had no plans to play pro lacrosse. Division I lacrosse had always been the end goal and the highest level I sought to reach, However, when the final whistle blew my senior year, I was not ready to let go of everything the Loyola Lacrosse locker room meant to me. The feelings of camaraderie and working towards something with a group of people who have made sacrifices together was not something I was ready to walk away from. 
 
This summer, you said on social media, "… shout out to everyone who used their platform to speak for those who often go unheard. Our sport has come a long way and I hope that activism continues long after the momentum dies down." Tell us what being a part of the social justice activism was like this summer and how you want to help the momentum continue?
 

The social justice activism I started doing publicly was just the fruition of what I had been learning about for most of my life. The issues people were learning about are things my family and I have lived through our entire lives. So, it felt very natural to speak on something that I had such strong feelings towards. I also felt that the lacrosse demographic was the most far removed from the communities who had been facing these racial injustices, so I felt like I was in the right place to deliver the message. I hope the momentum continues through allyship, that young people can use sports as one of the vehicles for inclusion.
 
Editor's Note: Read a Q&A from Lacrosse Magazine, 'Romar Dennis: Change 'Starts At The Grassroots'"
 
As you work with young players, what is advice you have for them about the game and how it helps you develop as a person?
 
I would say to find your passion and use your resources. Much of the passion I developed for lacrosse came from watching highlight videos and reading lacrosse magazines. Some of the skills I learned early on were self-taught just from emulating my favorite players. I liked soccer, basketball and football as a child, too, but the one I was passionate about was the one I always found a way to improve at. How we train for sports is a microcosm of how we navigate life. So, find your passion, hopefully it's lacrosse, (and hopefully it leads you to Loyola) and use what you have available to you to be the best you can be at it.