Coming from a tight-knit family and a small high school, Julia Calzonetti seemingly had all the joys in life close by. About a year ago, she made room for one more.
The Gloucester Catholic High School senior field hockey player began caring for a 90-year-old woman who lives in her town. It not only created a special bond between two people separated by more than 70 years in age – it also helped set Calzonetti’s potential career path.
“It made me want to be a nurse,” Calzonetti said. “I love her, and I love helping her. We do a lot of activities together, and I feed her dinner and give her medications and help get her to bed. It’s a family friend. She has dementia, so she needs 24-hour care.”
Calzonetti may have already had one eye on nursing because her mother, Lauren, was also a registered nurse at Virtua Health. Plus, her grandmother previously worked at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in labor and delivery. But spending time giving one-on-one care really inspired Calzonetti to look into nursing.
“I want to be able to help patients in the future,” she said.
She’s on the right path for such ambitions. Calzonetti receives good grades in the classroom and is part of her school’s International Club. In the meantime, it’s on the field where she’s been turning heads the last few seasons.
Calzonetti only picked up a stick six years ago and doesn’t play club field hockey. Her somewhat raw talents and impeccable work ethic earned Calzonetti a captain’s band this year. She responded with all three goals in the season opening 3-2 overtime win over Cumberland on Sept. 3.
“She is a leader and a very selfless player,” said Rams second-year coach Mandy Phillips. “She has incredible stick work and a presence on the field. She’s a kind person with good grades and is just a humble pie.”
Phillips leaned on Calzonetti and 2025 graduate Kiley Niederman last year for the bulk of the scoring during a 7-8-1 season. Phillips believes the team is ready to take the next step.
“We’re going for the conference this year. With the team we have this year, we can definitely be competitive,” Phillips said.
After the thrilling win over Cumberland, the Rams hung tough against Vineland a day later in a 4-1 loss, as Calzonetti assisted on Gloucester Catholic’s lone goal by freshman Alana Bellan. Even a loss brought joy to Calzonetti in her final season at Gloucester Catholic.
“I’m just trying to enjoy every second,” she said. “It can be tough when it’s over. I saw it with my brother and his sports. It was sad. I’m trying to enjoy my last year here with my friends because they are all going far (away).”
Calzonetti’s brother Nick was a three-sport athlete at Gloucester Catholic and is now playing football at Rowan University. Next year, Calzonetti plans to go to school nearby to remain close to him and her younger brother, Drew.
“I’m really close to my family,” she said. “We have really good parents, and I just don’t want to leave them or my little brother.”
With a busy schedule, Calzonetti’s been an example to younger teammates on how to balance the important things in life.
“She’s going to school and getting good grades, then coming out here to play hockey and going to work,” Phillips said. “All these kids are working jobs after they play here. They are balancing their lives while giving 110 percent out here.”
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