Osprey News
Osprey News
Kass Finishes Sixth, Earns Third All-America Nod
Stockton junior Kayla Kass of Bayonne became an All-American for the third time in her career by finishing sixth in the final of
the 800-meter run at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships. Kass
qualified as a USTFCCCA First Team All-American by finishing in the top eight.
Kass broke her own school record with a time of 2:10.71. The junior sat in sixth place through the first 400 meters but dropped to eighth at the 600-meter mark. Kass then moved back into sixth by running the last 200 meters in 34.44 seconds, which was the third fastest final lap out of eight runners in the race.
The sixth-place finish tied the best ever by a Stockton female in a track event at the NCAA Championships. Alicia Belko (3000m steeplechase) and Cassandra Hrusko (1500m) each finished sixth in their event at the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Kass has now qualified for All-American status three times (2024–25 indoor 800m, 2024 outdoor 800m), becoming the fourth Osprey woman to earn at least three All-American honors in track and field (joining Kim Marino, Lisa Shepherd and Chelsea Vaughan), and the first to do so in running events.
Kass, Petrolia Break Records for Stockton at Widener Invitational
Two Stockton athletes broke their own school records April 20, 2025, at the Paul Donohue Invitational hosted by Widener University, highlighting a strong day of performances for the Ospreys.
Kayla Kass of Bayonne shaved two seconds off her program record in the 800 meters, clocking in at 2:07.13 to place third in the elite race. Kass, who trailed only two Division I runners from Penn, now ranks second nationally on the NCAA Division III performance list.
Emma Petrolia of New Milford also reset a school mark in the 400-meter hurdles, winning the event in 1:01.32. The time, nearly a full second faster than her previous record, ranks fourth in the nation in Division III. Petrolia bested a field of 22 competitors.
In the field events, Michaela Pomatto of Egg Harbor Township placed third in the discus with a throw of 41.89 meters out of 33 entries. Isabella Freda of Verona finished fifth in the hammer throw among 33 competitors.
On the track, Maddy Valasek of Medford turned in a strong showing in the 5000 meters, finishing fourth out of 66 runners with a time of 17:50.62.
Stockton’s 4x100 relay team of Isabel Duval of Old Bridge, Adrienne Austin of Hainesport, Cameron Radcliffe of Point Pleasant and Marlie DiPalma of Hackettstown placed fourth out of 13 squads with a time of 50.02 seconds.
Nitti Breaks Hits Record
Jordan Nitti etched his name atop Stockton’s baseball record book April 10, 2025, becoming the program’s all-time hits leader during an NJAC doubleheader split against The College of New Jersey at Trenton Thunder Ballpark.
Nitti, a senior from Hamilton, tallied his 193rd career hit in the nightcap, surpassing the previous record of 192 set by Matt Allen (2007-10). Nitti entered the day with 190 hits and recorded three across the two games.
Stockton opened the twin bill with a 4-2 victory before falling 12-4 in the second game. Despite the loss, Nitti provided a highlight, tying the hits record with a single in the second inning and breaking it with another base hit in the fourth.
In the opener, the Ospreys were powered by a strong start from left-hander Antonio Sansone, who delivered six scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out nine for the win. Stockton built a 4-0 lead behind timely hitting before TCNJ closed the gap with two runs in the eighth. Reece Miller shut the door in the ninth for his 16th career save, tying John Lightbody’s program record (2010-11).
Austin Beard went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI, while Evan Bresnen and Joe Gmitter each drove in runs to pace the offense.
In Game 2, Nitti went 2-for-4 with an RBI, but the Ospreys couldn’t keep pace with TCNJ’s bats. Still, the milestone moment capped a memorable day for the senior.
Three Stockton Basketball Players Earn Academic All-District Honors
Three Stockton basketball players were named to the 2024-25 Academic All-District Team by College Sports Communicators, recognizing their achievements on the court and in the classroom.
Women's basketball standouts Imene Fathi and Katie Rausch, along with men's basketball player Andrew Crawford, received the honor. It marks Fathi's second consecutive Academic All-District selection, while Rausch and Crawford earned the accolade for the first time.
To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a minimum 3.50 cumulative GPA, be at least a sophomore, and have played in 90 percent of their team's games or started at least 66 percent of them.
Fathi, a biology major from Wildwood and a key leader for the Ospreys, earned NJAC Second Team honors this season. The junior point guard ranked among the conference leaders in several categories, tying for second in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.3), placing third in assists (4.1 apg), and fifth in minutes played (31.8 mpg). She also led Stockton in steals (1.7 spg), while contributing 9.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.
Rausch, a sophomore from South Brunswick majoring in elementary education, made an impact with her sharpshooting. She led Stockton with 32 three-pointers and averaged 7.0 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. Rausch appeared in 24 games with 16 starts and posted double-digit scoring in seven contests, including a career-high 19 points in a win over Rutgers-Newark on Feb. 1.
Crawford, a business administration major from Haddon Heights, played in all 28 games for the Stockton men's team, starting three. The sophomore guard ranked third on the team, with 42 assists and recorded a 2.8 assist-to-turnover ratio. He added 22 steals defensively and contributed 10 three-pointers on offense.
Stockton Cross Country Teams, Six Runners Earn USTFCCCA Academic Honors
The Stockton men’s and women’s cross country teams, along with six individual student-athletes, earned academic recognition from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) for the 2024 season.
Both Osprey squads were named USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams, which requires a cumulative GPA of 3.10 or higher. The Stockton women’s team, led by head coach Claire Incantalupo, recorded an impressive 3.66 GPA, ranking in the top half of 235 NCAA Division III programs and finishing as the top team from the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). The men’s team, under head coach Jayson Resch, posted a strong 3.39 GPA.
Individually, three runners from each team received USTFCCCA All-Academic Athlete honors. To qualify, student-athletes must hold a GPA above 3.30 and finish in the top 25 percent at the NCAA regional meet.
On the women’s side, education major Kayla Kass of Bayonne, chemistry major Rachel Hayes of Marlboro, and physical therapy major Amanda McNally of Tabernacle were honored. Kass and Hayes were recognized for the third time, while McNally earned her second career award.
For the Stockton men, accounting major Erik Ackerman of Long Valley, visual arts major Josh Corsentino of Brick, and business analytics major Dan Squicciarini of Flemington earned All-Academic status.
Three Stockton Soccer Players Earn All-Region Honors
Three Stockton soccer players were recognized with United Soccer Coaches All-Region IV honors for the 2024 season, with one men’s and two women’s players earning the distinction.
Ernst Louisius was named to the All-Region IV Second Team in men’s soccer, while Sophia Drea and Emily Hauck collected Third Team honors in women’s soccer.
Drea made history as just the fourth player in Stockton women’s soccer history — and the first since 1999 — to earn three career All-Region honors. The senior defender, a four-time NJAC Second Team selection, played in 16 matches this season, anchoring a defense that posted seven shutouts and allowed just one goal in six additional contests. Stockton finished second in the NJAC with a 0.74 goals-against average. Drea also contributed two goals late in the season, finishing with four points.
Over her four-year career, Drea started 77 of 78 games played and helped lead the Ospreys to 35 shutouts, while tallying six goals and six assists for 18 points.
Hauck, a senior center midfielder, earned All-Region honors for the second straight year and was named to the NJAC First Team this fall. She also received Academic All-District recognition from College Sports Communicators. Hauck started all 18 games and led Stockton with six assists, tying for fourth in the conference. A four-time NJAC all-conference honoree, she started 80 of 82 career games and finished with eight goals, 16 assists and 32 points.
On the men’s side, Louisius earned his first career All-Region nod following a breakout sophomore campaign. The forward led the NJAC with five game-winning goals, tied for seventh with 19 points, and ranked eighth with eight goals. Four of his five game-winners came in one-goal victories. Louisius also earned NJAC Second Team honors and was named NJAC Offensive Player of the Week once during the season.
He scored four goals in a five-game stretch in September and closed the season strong, contributing seven points—two goals and three assists—over the final six matches.
The All-Region honors add to an impressive year for the Stockton soccer programs, recognizing the individual excellence of Drea, Hauck and Louisius on both ends of the pitch.
Fogg Voted NJAC Outstanding Field Athlete; Five Ospreys All-Conference
Five Stockton student-athletes collected NJAC all-conference honors in men's track & field for the 2024-25 indoor season. The Ospreys finished third in the NJAC Championships for the sixth year in a row.
Ahmad Fogg of Egg Harbor Township headlined the quintet with his selection as NJAC Outstanding Field Athlete to go along with a pair of all-conference honors. Fogg earned the NJAC First Team spot in the long jump by winning in a field of 18 competitors at the NJAC Championships with a distance of 7.11 meters.
Fogg also added an NJAC Honorable Mention accolade in the triple jump after finishing third out of 11 competitors with a distance of 14.28 meters that was a personal best and ranks 27th in NCAA Division III.
The distance medley relay team of Joseph deBeaumont of Blackwood, Jason Collura of West Caldwell, Landon Jenter of Voorhees and Jack Cordiano of Toms River qualified for NJAC Honorable Mention kudos with third place at the NJAC Championships with a time of 10:37.40.
CR Flamengo to Train at Stockton Ahead of FIFA Club World Cup
One of Brazil’s most iconic and internationally beloved soccer teams will call Stockton University home this summer as it prepares for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
CR Flamengo, based in Rio de Janeiro and widely regarded as Brazil’s most valuable soccer club, boasts an estimated fan base of nearly 50 million. The team is set to arrive at Stockton’s Galloway campus on June 11 ahead of its first two matches in the tournament.
Flamengo opens group play against Tunisian squad Espérance Sportive de Tunisie at 9 p.m. June 16, followed by a match against English Premier League powerhouse Chelsea FC at 2 p.m. June 20. Both games will be played at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
“Stockton is proud to welcome CR Flamengo to the United States and New Jersey,” said Stockton President Joe Bertolino. “Our Athletics Department has worked hard to prepare our top-notch facilities for this event, and this will be a great opportunity to showcase our beautiful campus to CR Flamengo and the world.”
The club will train on two natural grass fields, including G. Larry James Stadium, and utilize the air-conditioned Sports Center, which includes physical therapy facilities and meeting space for the coaching staff.
“We are extremely excited to serve as the Team Base Camp for CR Flamengo this summer,” said Tony Berich, Stockton’s executive director of Athletics and Campus Recreation. “We had a wonderful visit in December and could not be happier to partner with them in their quest for the FIFA Club World Cup. We look forward to providing the Rubro-Negro with a home away from home.”
The nickname Rubro-Negro, meaning Scarlet and Black, refers to Flamengo’s signature team colors.
“At Stockton, we have a proud, rich history of hosting FIFA going back to the 1994 World Cup,” Berich added. “Thanks to the extraordinary efforts of our Associate Athletic Director Jeff Haines, we are able to continue that tradition.”
Stockton previously hosted the Saudi Arabian national team during the 1994 World Cup and held a friendly with Trinidad and Tobago.
Flamengo cited Stockton’s proximity to Philadelphia as a key factor in its decision. “This strategic decision aims to minimize physical exertion and enhance logistical efficiency for the team,” the club said in a release. The choice followed a site visit led by manager Gabriel Skinner and approved by football director José Boto.
Flamengo qualified for the tournament by winning the 2022 CONMEBOL Libertadores and is one of six South American teams in the 32-club field. The tournament runs from June 14 to July 13 across 11 U.S. cities. Flamengo’s final group match will be June 24 in Orlando against León of Mexico. The top two teams in each group will advance to the knockout stage. The final is set for July 13 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.
