COLUMBUS - The Columbus State University Department of Athletics held a special graduation ceremony for the senior student-athletes of the men's and women's tennis and softball teams on Monday, May 8 inside the Lumpkin Center on CSU's Main Campus because the three Cougar teams will be chasing National Championships during CSU's commencement weekend on May 11 and 12.
Interim President Dr. John Fuchko began the ceremony with initial remarks and ended the ceremony conferring the graduates with their degrees. Honorary guest speaker and Principal of Aaron Cohn Middle School, Dr. Kenneth "Stefan" Lawrence, a two-time CSU graduate and men's basketball alum gave special remarks to the seniors before Interim Associate Provost & Associate Vice President for Faculty Affairs and Academic Innovation, Dr. Alicia Bryant, certified that the 11 student-athletes have met all the institutional and departmental requirements for their respective degrees.
CSU Director of Athletics, Todd Reeser, introduced and recognized each graduate individually. "I am so pleased that CSU embraced the special recognition of these outstanding student-athletes," said Reeser. "These young men and women represent the University in a first-class manner, and it is fitting that we would recognize their success on and off the fields of competition."
Seniors Honored
Agostina Bigotti – Women's Tennis
From Saint Martin receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing
Caitlyn Canady - Softball
From Loganville, Georgia receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing
Javier Cueto Ramos - Men's Tennis
From Tenerife, Spain receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration in General Business with a concentration in International Business
Grace Kiser - Softball
From Cumming, Georgia receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance
Pietro Martinetti - Men's Tennis
From Torino, Italy receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration in General Business with a concentration in International Business
Kristen Odum - Softball
From Sharpsburg, Georgia receiving a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
Sara Ramirez - Women's Tennis
From Cancún, Mexico receiving a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Leader Development
Inma Ramon – Women's Tennis
From Valencia, Spain receiving a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Human Resource Management
Tommaso Schold – Men's Tennis
From Livorno, Italy receiving a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Leader Development
Felix Steen – Men's Tennis
From Bielefeld, Germany receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in International Business
Justin Welz – Men's Tennis
From Karlsruhe, Germany receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in International Business
The men's tennis team is the second seed in the NCAA Division II Championship and will begin the championship series on Thursday, May 11 against 15th-seeded Le Moyne College at 8 p.m. at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla. The Lady Cougars enter the NCAA Division II Championship as the seventh seed and will match up with 10th-seeded St. Mary's University (TX) on Friday at 8 p.m. in Orlando. Both championships are a single-elimination format.
2023 Division II Men's Tennis Official Bracket | NCAA.com
2023 Division II Women's Tennis Official Bracket | NCAA.com
The Cougar softball team will be competing in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional from May 11-12 in Dahlonega, Ga. CSU was announced the fourth seed on Monday and is set to play Lincoln Memorial University on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. The regional is a double-elimination format and the winner will advance to the Super Regionals next weekend.
2023 Division II Softball Official Bracket | NCAA.com
