Editor's Note: The Marist Athletics Department is continuing to highlight its Senior Awards finalists. From April 20-May 15, a feature story will be presented on each finalist for Sportsperson of the Year.
Female Sportsperson Finalists: Megan Fergus (Volleyball) | Sydney Ford (Women's Rowing) | Alana Gilmer (Women's Basketball) |  Denise Grohn (Women's Cross Country/Track) | Rebekah Hand (Women's Basketball) | Samantha Mehalick (Women's Lacrosse) | Anais Mathes (Water Polo) | Ali Milam (Softball) | Juliet Nowak (Swimming & Diving) | Claire Oberdorf (Softball/Women's Basketball) | Alexa Svensson (Women's Soccer)
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Male Sportsperson Finalists: Raislan Aiken (Swimming & Diving) | Matthew Blaszczyk (Men's Rowing) | Samad Bounthong (Men's Soccer) | Grant Dixon (Football)
POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Many great players have come through Marist over the years, but one name that stands out is
Tyler Kapuscinski.
As consistent and dependable as they come, the first baseman and designated hitter has been a big part of the Red Foxes' success in recent years. Kapuscinski has elevated himself to being one of the top players in the region for multiple years now, and stands in the Red Fox records as a top-10 all-time batter.
With the perennial All-MAAC honoree leading the team, Marist has become a household name in the region. From becoming annual qualifiers in the conference tournament, to winning the title and taking national champions to the limit, Kapuscinski and the team have accomplished much in recent years. The Red Foxes have once again gained a culture of excellence, and it is thanks to its leaders that they can continue to grow as a program.
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Kapuscinski appeared in just nine games in 2016 before red-shirting the rest of the season. He did not get much of a chance to show his skills, but after coming back in 2017 he immediately became one of the top hitters on the team. In 47 games, the red-shirt freshman batted .335 with an on-base percentage of .440 and a slugging percentage of .410. He twice earned MAAC Rookie of the Week honors and was named Second Team All-MAAC for his efforts.
The first baseman and designated hitter continued to improve the following year in which he batted .366 with an on-base percentage of .450 and a slugging percentage of .511. His numbers were good enough for top-10 in the conference in each category and a First Team All-MAAC honor. Against Siena in the MAAC playoffs, Kapuscinski smashed a grand slam and went 4-for-5 with five RBIs.
In his red-shirt junior season, the Marlboro, NJ-native led the conference in batting average (.366) and on-base percentage (.469) while ranking fourth in slugging (.531). He led Marist's high-powered offense in 2019, which topped the MAAC in average (.288) and on-base percentage (.379) while ranking top-five in nearly every statistic. Kapuscinski was named First Team All-MAAC once again, as well as Rawlings/ABCA Second Team All-Northeast.
The 2020 season came to a close before the Red Foxes truly found their rhythm, but after roughly four seasons at Marist, Kapuscinski certainly left his mark. He was named the #59 College Hitter in the Nation by D1Baseball and earned a spot on the Preseason All-MAAC squad. Kapuscinski and the rest of the team had hoped to make another run to the championship, and they may have if given the chance. One thing is for sure: For all he's achieved, Kapuscinski will go down as one of the top players in Marist history.
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2017 was a landmark year for the Red Foxes, as they collected 32 wins and earned the second seed in the MAAC playoffs. They dispatched #3 Canisius 6-2 in the quarterfinals with the help of a 2-for-4 outing from Kapuscinski, and moved on to face top-seeded Fairfield.
"It's not that the 2017 championship game was forgettable by any means. But the semifinals had more of a championship atmosphere for sure," reflected Kapuscinski. "It was raining on-and-off all game, and Fairfield had a future draftee on the mound. We had already played them in one of the most highly-contested series of the year, not to mention that if we got out of this game with a win, we knew the championship was ours to lose."
Marist had won the regular season series against the Stags, though each game was contested by two or less runs. Kapuscinski knew this matchup would be a challenge, but rose to the occasion with the help of his teammates. The Red Foxes took an early 2-0 lead in the third but Fairfield answered back in the bottom of the inning, and this narrative continued throughout the game. However, an RBI-double by Kapuscinski in the eighth put Marist ahead by four runs, and they went on to win 11-8 in the battle of the tournament.
"The game was back-and-forth for nearly all nine innings, but we had timely hits and had been taking care of the little things. It was one of the most complete team victories that I had ever been a part of. The thing I remember most is the pure emotions I felt throughout the entire game. Once the final out was made, it felt like a huge weight was lifted off our shoulders. In a way, I think we all knew we were going to be champions after that game."
The Red Foxes faced #4 Iona in the championship game, and easily took a 5-1 victory. Kapuscinski (2-for-4, 2 Runs) led the team to their first championship since 2009, and Marist once again stood atop the conference with the best in the region.
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While
Tyler Kapuscinski's career as a baseball player is uncertain, it is clear that he has excelled as an all-time Red Fox. He was a part of incredibly successful seasons for the program, and truly made a difference when games were on the line. Though the 2020 campaign ended early, he surely would have continued to stand out.
Kapuscinski was a great leader, player and person and represented Marist well. While he was a household name in the conference from his first full season, he continued to work towards greatness and always looked to improve. Kapuscinski helped make Marist baseball what it is today, and the program will always be thankful for their time with the standout hitter.
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