By Robert Fulton

Karo and Fejiro Okiomah are more than a thousand miles from home. But they are playing soccer. And they are together.

The two graduates of local Hendrickson High School have teamed to play soccer at High Point University in North Carolina. This summer, the pair has also spent their time playing for the Carolina Dynamo.

Karo, 20, was impressed with High Point, a small liberal arts college with approximately 3,000 students situated between Winston-Salem and Greensboro on the Western side of North Carolina, when coaches recruited him out of high school. The campus features lush, green grass, impressive water fountains and ornate buildings in a classic Southern style.

“It’s beautiful,” said Karo, entering his junior year this fall. “I fell in love with it when I got here. It’s a sight to be seen.”

With his older brother in North Carlina, it wasn’t long until Fejiro joined him at High Point. The younger brother graduated from high school a semester early in December of 2008 to get a kick-start on the next stage of his life.

Fejiro likes the campus, class sizes and the Divsion I High Point soccer program which competes in the Big South Conference, but the opportunity to play with Karo was the main draw.

“I thought it would be nice to play with my brother,” said Fejiro, 19 and entering his sophomore year. “It’s a good feeling. We know how each other plays. We have a connection on the field. Sometimes I can play a ball and know he’s going to get there.”

The brothers did not form that bond overnight. It came from years playing you soccer, club ball with the Lonestars and high school soccer competition.

“It’s one of the best parts,” Karo said. “He knows exactly what I think. It’s awesome playing with him.”

Both brothers say that being far from home was not a big adjustment, but each cite the weather as a big difference.

Fejiro is pre-med at High Point, studying biochemistry in school. Balancing such a rigorous academic program and playing soccer is a challenge, splitting time between the field and the classroom.

“You have to make sure you have good time management,” he said.

This summer, the pair played for the Carolina Dynamo, in the USL Premier Developmental League. Karo sees his play with the Dynamo as a key step to his dream of turning pro.

“It was an honor when they picked me up,” said Karo, who is studying management info systems and minoring business at High Point. He plans to graduate early so he can be available to play when the MLS season starts the following spring.

“Just working hard to make it,” Karo said.