COMPLETE SKYLINE RELEASE

---

NEW YORK | The Skyline Conference has announced its 2025-26 Scholar-Athletes of the Year, and Farmingdale State led the conference with five selections.

Representing the Rams were Richie Heyder (Baseball), Luke O'Grady-Rodgers (Men's Golf), Madison DeMaio (Softball), Olivia Finnegan (Women's Track & Field), and Sarah Rende (Women's Volleyball). The conference recognizes one Scholar-Athlete of the Year for each sport, honoring student-athletes who have excelled both academically and athletically.

Honorees were chosen through a nomination process conducted at the conclusion of the academic year, with selections based on cumulative grade-point average, academic accomplishments and athletic excellence. "Our Scholar-Athletes of the Year exemplify the very best of what it means to be a Skyline Conference student-athlete," said Commissioner Melissa Reilly. "Their commitment to academic excellence, competitive success and leadership within their campus communities is truly commendable. We are proud to recognize these outstanding individuals for the dedication and discipline they have demonstrated both in the classroom and in their respective sports."

Junior outfielder Richie Heyder (Holbrook, N.Y.) recorded one of the most decorated seasons in program history. He was named D3baseball.com First Team All-American and Region 3 Player of the Year, an ABCA Second Team All-American, ECAC Player of the Year, Skyline Conference Player of the Year, and became the first baseball student-athlete in Farmingdale State history to be selected as a First Team Academic All-American. Heyder led all three NCAA divisions with a .608 on-base percentage while ranking among the nation's leaders in numerous offensive categories, including second in OPS (1.505), third in slugging percentage (.897), and seventh in batting average (.470).

Junior Luke O'Grady-Rodgers (Carmel, N.Y.) helped guide the Rams to the Skyline Conference Championship and an appearance in the NCAA Championship. A GCAA PING All-Region II and First Team All-Skyline Conference selection, he posted a 75.1 scoring average over 25 rounds, the ninth-lowest single-season scoring average in program history, while also recording four top-five finishes during the 2025-26 campaign.

Junior pitcher Madison DeMaio (Elmont, N.Y.) continued her dominance in the circle after earning Skyline Conference Pitcher of the Year honors for the second consecutive season. The NFCA All-Region Third Team and First Team All-Skyline Conference selection finished the year with an 18-11 record, a 2.79 ERA, seven shutouts, and 110 strikeouts. Nationally, she ranked second in Division III in games started while also finishing among the nation's leaders in innings pitched, complete games, pitching appearances, shutouts, and victories.

Senior Olivia Finnegan (Massapequa, N.Y.) was named the Skyline Conference Field Athlete of the Year after producing a record-setting performance at the conference championship. She scored a championship-high 68 points, capturing conference titles in the long jump, triple jump, and high jump while scoring in six additional events to lead Farmingdale State to the team championship. She also represented the Rams at the All-Atlantic Region Championships, placing 20th in the 4x400-meter relay.

Junior setter Sarah Rende (Wantagh, N.Y.) earned Skyline Conference Elite 19 honors for the second straight season while also being named First Team All-Skyline and Academic All-District. She finished second in the conference with 8.65 assists per set, recording a career-high 744 assists and surpassing the 2,000-career assist milestone. Entering her senior season, Rende ranks among the program's all-time leaders with 2,022 career assists and owns the highest career assists-per-set average in school history.

2025-26 Skyline Conference Scholar Athletes of the Year

Baseball
Richie Heyder - FSC
 
Basketball
M- Kenny Rodriguez - SJLI
W- Esther Ramos - MVL
 
Cross Country
M- Silas Glynn - USMMA
W- Perry Yun - SLC
 
Golf
Luke O'Grady-Rodgers - FSC
 
Lacrosse
M- Kenny Leen - MSMC
W- Makenna Reekie - UMSV
 
Soccer
M- Marco Mazzarelli - MSMC
W- Jenna Rufini - SJLI
 
Softball
Madison DeMaio - FSC
 
Swimming and Diving
M- Teague Mayer - USMMA
W- Stephanie Sommer - MSMC
 
Tennis
M- Thomas Jouanneau - MVL
W- Adrianna Filippelli - MVL
 
Track and Field
M- Holden Collier - USMMA
W- Olivia Finnegan - FSC
 
Volleyball
M- AJ Esposito - SJLI
W- Sarah Rende - FSC