Baruch College Athletics Scores Record-Breaking Year of Championships
June 7, 2019

The baseball team celebrates after winning the automatic qualifier game for its first-ever NCAA tournament appearance. Photo credit: Denis Gostev
Baruch College student-athletes made history during the 2018-19 seasons with a record-number of teams winning championships and advancing into the NCAA Division III postseason tournaments for the first time.
Seven teams won CUNY Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) championships, and five went on to play in the NCAA Tournament.
Amid the year’s trophies and triumphs, Coach of the Year awards went to coaches of Baruch’s baseball (Jose Torres), men’s basketball (John Alesi), men’s tennis (Gregory Wyzykowski), and men’s swimming and diving team (Charles Lampasso).
“We are very proud of all our hardworking student-athletes, coaches and staff for such a terrific season,” said Heather MacCulloch, director of athletics and recreation at Baruch College. “Our teams showed grit and the proud Bearcat spirit every day, whether it be in practice or on the field of competition. We are already looking forward to the 2019-20 season!”
Championship-Winning Teams
Baseball
The baseball team won its first CUNYAC Championship since 2012, defeating the College of Staten Island in a three-game series. The victory advanced them to the NAC (North Atlantic Conference) in a quest for the NCAA AQ (Automatic Qualifier) to participate in the NCAA tournament. They defeated Husson University in Bangor, Maine in another three-game series to punch their historic team ticket to their first-ever appearance in the NCAA tournament, which took place at UMass-Boston.
First baseman Ray Maurer (’19) earned the CUNYAC Sportsmanship award. Jose Torres, in his 14th year as coach, was voted CUNYAC Coach of the Year while also winning his 200th career game and third championship.
Read more about the team’s CUNYAC championship win here and the clinching game to punch their ticket to the NCAA Division III Tournament here.
Men’s Basketball
For the third time, the men’s basketball team won the CUNYAC Championship. Forward Benjamin Boateng (’20) connected on the winning shot with 0.2 seconds left in the game against the College of Staten Island to dramatically win the title and go on to play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Watch Video: Relive the exciting winning play here that grabbed the attention of The Washington Post and Vox Media.
Guard Bryler Paige (’19) was voted the CUNYAC Burt Beagle Sportsmanship Award winner, and John Alesi was named ECAC regional coach of the year.
Men’s Tennis
In the spring, men’s tennis won its third straight CUNYAC Championship, defeating the College of Staten Island 5-2. They went on to play in the NCAA Tournament. Abinhav Srivastava (’22) was voted the CUNYAC Rookie of the Year, and Gregory Wyzykowski was voted Coach of the Year.
Learn more about the team’s championship triumph here.
Men’s Soccer
The men’s soccer team defeated the College of Staten Island to win its first CUNYAC Championship since 2014. They advanced to the first round of the NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament.
Read and watch the team’s dramatic come from behind championship victory in penalty kicks here.
Swimming and Diving:
Men’s
For the second straight year, men’s swimming won the CUNYAC Finals in a landslide by over 300 points. Erich Moeslinger (’22) was selected as Rookie of the Year, while Charles Lampasso, director of aquatics and head men’s and women’s swimming coach, was selected as the Coach of the Year for the eighth time in his career.
Women’s
Baruch’s women’s swimming team won their second straight CUNYAC Finals, defeating rival Hunter College by two points. Yee Chung Phang (’19) was voted the CUNYAC Women’s Swimming Performer of the Year.
More information about both team’s successful season is available here.
Men’s Volleyball
For the first time since 2015, the men’s volleyball team won the CUNYAC Championship defeating Hunter College in five exciting sets. They also played in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Endicott College.
See more about the team’s successful CUNYAC Championship here.
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