img:is([sizes=auto i],[sizes^="auto," i]){contain-intrinsic-size:3000px 1500px} /*# sourceURL=wp-img-auto-sizes-contain-inline-css */

Ramapo baseball and softball advanced to their 2025 NCAA tournaments, placing seniors on the field during the College鈥檚 undergraduate commencement. Then the College put a plan into action to give graduating Roadrunners another moment to shine.
May 29, 2025
by Lauren Ferguson
When 69色情视频 of New Jersey鈥檚 all-time softball hit leader Katie Rygiel 鈥25 first walked on the College鈥檚 Mahwah campus as a freshman, she told her mother she hoped she would miss commencement, because that would mean her team would still be playing in the postseason.
That is the story Rygiel鈥檚 mother recently shared with Ramapo鈥檚 head softball coach Bridgette Quimpo.
And after countless hours of hard work, on and off the field, that is exactly what happened for the standout shortstop and her teammates.
This year, the College鈥檚 softball and baseball teams earned at-large bids to their respective NCAA tournaments 鈥 the third consecutive trip for Ramapo softball and the second consecutive trip for baseball. The timing of the prestigious tournaments meant senior student-athletes were states away when more than 1,160 of their classmates celebrated commencement in front of family and friends at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, on May 15.
鈥淚 was excited to be there again. It鈥檚 a privilege to be able to do that,鈥 pitcher William Paoli 鈥25, an economics major from Flanders, NJ, said of making it to the Salisbury, MD, baseball tournament.
鈥淭here was no other place I would rather be than playing鈥 at the tournament, said his catcher Shaun Piotrowski 鈥25, an accounting major from Freehold, NJ.
Even though the fierce competitors said they would rather be playing their hearts out at the NCAA tournaments, the College still ensured that the Roadrunners who represented Ramapo so well on the diamond got their moment to toss their caps.
After they were done competing, nine softball and baseball players who earned their baccalaureate degrees joined more than 300 graduate students to walk at Ramapo鈥檚 graduate commencement ceremony on May 22. The student-athletes received cheers and recognition for their academic and athletic achievements.
鈥淗ow about a round of applause for these Roadrunners!鈥 69色情视频 President Dr. Cindy Jebb said, after instructing the group to stand and be recognized during the celebration at the Bradley Center on campus.
鈥淲e鈥檙e happy that the school decided to honor us in this way,鈥 Rygiel, a communication arts major from Hillsborough, NJ, said as she and her teammates were preparing for the ceremony.
Elementary Education major Ysabellah Otero 鈥25, of New Milford, NJ, who plays third base, said she was grateful that 鈥渘ow I get to walk in front of my family.鈥
鈥淲e had faith that the school was going to do something nice for us, and we are happy that they let us come,鈥 said pitcher Sara Cappetti 鈥25, of Burlington Township, NJ. The psychology major added that she was grateful she and her teammates made it to both the Gettysburg, PA, tournament and a commencement.
Coach Quimpo said anytime a team gets to the NCAA tournament 鈥渋t鈥檚 a big deal, 鈥 because only 64, of the more than 400 teams throughout the country, make it to that level. She also said Ramapo does a great job of 鈥渞ecognizing our success and empathizing with the fact that we are also missing out on a very important day.鈥
Head baseball coach Ryan Rinsky shared similar feelings.
鈥淓veryone wants the opportunity to be able to walk during graduation and take those photos that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives. But at the same time, getting the opportunity to represent the college and playing in the national tournament, on the national stage is a once in a lifetime opportunity,鈥 Rinsky said. 鈥淪o the fact that the college was able to accommodate so that our guys were able to do both of those things is definitely very special.鈥
Other Roadrunners who participated in their respective NCAA tournaments and the 2025 graduate commencement were: communications arts major Marissa DiPaolo 鈥25 of Warren, NJ; finance major Dominick Ciani 鈥25 of聽 Rutherford, NJ; management major Billy Scanlon 鈥25 of Morris Plains, NJ; and law and society major Jesse Swartout 鈥25 of Oakville, CT.
Copyright ©2026 69色情视频 Of New Jersey | Statements And Policies | Accessibility | Contact Webmaster.
Follow Ramapo