Corey Ceccolini’s record as an athlete is extensive and impressive. Her family background was a fair predictor she would become an outstanding athlete. The daughter of Bob and Deborah Johnson Ceccolini and the granddaughter of Yale All America swimmer, Howard Johnson, Corey, like her sister, Abigail, and brothers, Dustin and Jared, was a highly competitive athlete at Branford High school.
A 1996 BHS graduate, Corey was a three sport athlete, earning a total of 12 varsity letters in field hockey, basketball and softball and was elected captain of all
three sports in her senior year, while earning academic credentials that qualified her as a member of theNational Honor Society.
Corey was a standout point guard for Hall of Fame coach Ted Kaczynski, helping the 1999 Hornets to the State Tournament Semi-Finals where they had a heartbreaking 52-50 loss to Bristol Central. In softball Corey was a four year starter and was selected to the 1996 All League Team.
But it was in field hockey, under Hall of Fame coach, Cathy McGuirk, that Corey was most impressive, earning first team All League and All Area recognition three times. Twice she was selected to the All State team. In her senior year she was honored as All Area MVP. She led BHS in scoring as a junior and senior, setting a single season scoring record of 35 goals, her career scoring tallies at BHS were 65 goals and 35 assists. Corey’s field hockey prowess was nationally recognized. She was selected to train in the Futures Olympic Development Program three times and earned a scholarship to Duke University.
As a Blue Devil, Corey continued her remarkable field hockey career. She led her team in scoring as a junior and senior, scoring 43 career goals and was selected team captain by her teammates in her senior year. Corey’s outstanding at Duke earned her several honors, including First Team All ACC twice. She was a two time Regional All America and in 1999 she was named to the Second Team All America team. At the conclusion of her senior year, Corey was selected to play in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I North-South senior All Star Game.
Since graduating from college, Corey became a world traveler, visiting 19 countries, including South Africa where she was a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. Eventually, Corey settled in San Diego, California where she worked as an educator. There, she coached the University City High School Field Hockey Team and in the Futures Olympic Development Program for three years.
In 2007, Corey and her husband, Justin Smith, moved to Nova Scotia, where they continue to live on their organic farm.
