Baseball | 7/16/2025 9:59:30 AM
Mario Cubello, a four-year member of the St. John. Fisher University baseball team was named the 2024-25 Empire 8 Conference’s Man of the Year. This award honors a senior male student-athlete who has distinguished himself throughout his collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.
Cubello recently graduated Magna Cum Laude with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.99 as a biology major with a minor in chemistry. He was named St. John Fisher’s 2025 Male Scholar Athlete of the Year and won the institution’s prestigious 2024-25 Michael Cerame “Coach C” Excellence in Leadership and Dedication Award. In addition, he won the 2024 Empire 8 Baseball Torchbearer Award for academic excellence.
Cubello, who shuffled primarily between second base and right field in 2025, enjoyed a tremendous senior season, earning All-Empire 8 first team accolades and D3baseball.com All-Region second team accolades. Cubello led the Cardinals in home runs (8), walks (41), slugging percentage (.627), on-base percentage (.566) and stolen bases (22 in 23 attempts) during the 2025 season. He finished second on the team in batting average (.382) and fourth in RBI (30). Overall, Cubello led the Empire 8 in both walks and on-base percentage and was second with a tremendous 1.193 OPS and tied for second in stolen bases.
“I am both humbled and honored to be recognized as the Empire 8 Man of the Year,” said Cubello. “I want to express my great appreciation to the Empire 8 Conference, not only for this incredible honor, but for the exceptional platform they provide all of the student-athletes within the conference to compete. It has been a privilege to compete here and an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life.
To St. John Fisher, I am endlessly grateful for the extraordinary student-athlete experience they have provided us. For four years Fisher has provided me everything needed and more to excel both in the classroom and on the field. I am forever proud to wear the Cardinals uniform. I also want to express my deep appreciation and gratitude to Coach Brandon Potter, Dave Roth, and Bobby Papalouizos for their instrumental role in my journey. Their dedication to my growth and development not only as a player, but as a person, has been vital to my success at Fisher and will continue to guide me in my future endeavors.”
Academically, Cubello was an eight-time Empire 8 President’s List selection, eight-time St. John Fisher Dean’s List recipient and earned High Honors accolades. In addition, he was a two-year President of Fisher’s Upsilon Rho Chapter of Tri-Beta National Biological Honor Society and was a 2025 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Baseball Team selection.
“Mario’s effort, dedication, determination, and commitment to the classroom and field are always impressive,” said St. John Fisher Head Baseball Coach Brandon Potter. “He’s made a forever impression on teammates, coaches, and the baseball program. As great as Mario is in the classroom and on the diamond, he’s a greater teammate and person.”
Cubello was President of St. John Fisher’s Pre-Health Club, where he organized meet and greets/information sessions with nearby New York and Pennsylvania medical schools. He also was a student health ambassador, devoted to promoting wellness and educating the Fisher campus community on a wide range of health topics. Cubello was also a member of the American Cancer Society on campus, while fundraising and spreading awareness about cancer to the campus community.
He served as an emergency room volunteer at both Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester and Albany Memorial Hospital. Cubello was also a Schenectady Ole Timers Baseball Club Skills Camp Volunteer and three-year volunteer at the Albany Dutchmen Youth Baseball Camps.
“Mario leads by example,” said Jen Granger, St. John Fisher University Director of Athletics. “His work ethic, character, teamwork and intelligence are what you hope for in a student athlete as they lead to success on and off the field.”
In four seasons at St. John Fisher, Cubello, a native of Bethlehem, NY, hit .340 with 58 runs scored, nine home runs and 40 RBI. He stole 22 bases and recorded a career 1.071 OPS. St. John Fisher won 120 games in his four seasons, won three Empire 8 Championships, and made three NCAA Division III Baseball Championship Tournament appearances.
“Mario is a tremendous representative of St. John Fisher University and the Empire 8 on and off the field,” said Empire 8 Senior Associate Commissioner Joe Venniro. “Mario showed that not only did his hard work and perseverance throughout four years paid off on the field, while his work in the classroom and leadership roles within the St. John Fisher community were spectacular. He is very deserving winner of the E8’s Man of the Year award.”
Cubello will now be forwarded to the national DIII Commissioner’s Association Senior Male Athlete of the Year award. He led a strong contingent of nine outstanding nominees considered by the Empire 8 Man of the Year Committee. Brian Scoville, Utica University All-American hockey player was the 2024 E8 Man of the Year. Cubello’s former teammate Noah Campanelli, was named the 2023 Empire 8 Man of the Year and DIII Commissioner’s Association Senior Male Athlete of the Year.
2024-25 Empire 8 Man of the Year Finalists
Mario Cubello, Baseball, St. John Fisher University
Luke Insley, Basketball, Nazareth University
Joe Johnson, Lacrosse, Russell Sage College
Sebastian Knowles, Swimming and Diving, Hartwick College
Evan Kurtz, Track and Field, Houghton University
William LaMastus, Swimming and Diving, Alfred University
Anthony Lapine, Baseball, SUNY Brockport
Joe Vogt, Soccer, SUNY Geneseo
Matt Wood, Ice Hockey, Utica University
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com.
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