Farmingdale State College has cemented its reputation as the academic powerhouse of the Skyline Conference, announcing that five of its student‑athletes were selected as Scholar‑Athlete of the Year for the 2025‑26 season. The honorees, spanning baseball, golf, softball, track and volleyball, exemplify a rare blend of classroom rigor and athletic prowess.
Baseball breakthrough
Junior outfielder Richie Heyder from Holbrook, New York, made history as the first baseball player from Farmingdale State to earn Academic All‑American status. He was also named First Team All‑American and Region 3 Player of the Year, posting a .608 on‑base percentage that topped all three NCAA divisions and placing him among the nation’s leaders in OPS, slugging percentage and batting average.
Golf consistency
Junior golfer Luke O'Grady‑Rodgers of Carmel, New York, was a cornerstone of the Rams’ championship run. He helped the team capture the Skyline Conference title and earn an NCAA Championship berth, maintaining a 75.1 scoring average that underscored his steady performance on the course.
Softball dominance
Pitcher Madison DeMaio, a junior from Elmont, New York, repeated as Skyline Conference Pitcher of the Year, finishing the season with a 2.79 ERA and 110 strikeouts. Her back‑to‑back honors reflect both dominance on the mound and commitment to academic excellence.
Track record
Senior track athlete Olivia Finnegan of Massapequa, New York, set a championship‑record 68 points, capturing titles in long jump, triple jump and high jump. Her versatility and consistency earned her the Skyline Conference Field Athlete of the Year award and positioned her for potential national accolades.
Volleyball excellence
Junior setter Sarah Rende from Wantagh, New York, continued her elite trajectory, earning Skyline Conference Elite 19 honors for the second straight year. She ranks second nationally in assists per set and has surpassed 2,000 career assists, a testament to her playmaking skill and durability.
All five honorees are now eligible for broader national recognition programs, a prospect that could further spotlight Farmingdale State’s growing influence in collegiate athletics and academic achievement.