Staten Island Top Student-Athlete
Congratulations to Eric Rodriguez, Class of 2025, on being named this year's Varsity Club Award winner.
The prestigious award is given annually to both the top male and female high school seniors "who represent the combination of athletics, academics, and citizenship."
"I'd like to thank the Varsity Club Committee for this prestigious award," said Eric, adding, "It is something I will never forget."
Academics
Eric, who will be attending Lehigh University in the fall, graduated from Farrell with a 99.2 GPA, receiving First Honors every academic term all four years. He was a three-year member of the National Honor Society, serving as President of the Monsignor Farrell NHS Chapter his senior year.
"We thank the Varsity Club for recognizing Eric's outstanding accomplishments in the classroom, community, and on the field," said Lou Tobacco, President of Monsignor Farrell High School. "On behalf of Monsignor Farrell, I would also like to congratulate this year's girls' award winner, Lianna DiMartini, and St. Joseph Hill," he added.
"Playing baseball for Monsignor Farrell was the best 4 years of my life. It was an honor to wear the jersey, and I am so thankful for my teammates who I now call brothers for life."
A member of the Monsignor Farrell Scholars Program, Eric was also an anchor for the school's television studio, WFBN-TV. He was also one of the voices of Farrell Sports Broadcasting, providing play-by-play and color commentary for livestreamed Farrell football and basketball games. He has also worked as the announcer for Staten Island Ferry Hawks baseball games.
Eric was also a member of the Center for Learning and Academic Wellness (CLAW), Farrell's peer-tutoring service, as well as the school's military veterans' support group, Hearing Our Heroes.
Community Service
In addition to his dedication to the Monsignor Farrell community, Eric was involved in numerous outside organizations, including working with children with disabilities and special needs through Staten Island Little League Challenger’s Division. While a student at Farrell, Eric accumulated nearly 1,000 hours of volunteer work. "Eric was a true leader on and off the field," said head varsity baseball coach Bobby Mulligan, who is also a member of the Monsignor Farrell Faculty.
"I want to thank my parents for raising me the way they did and teaching me to work hard."
On the Field
Recognized by Coach Mulligan as a hard worker and a great teammate, Eric was a Catholic High School Athletic Association First-Team All-City selection as a junior and was also named to the Staten Island Baseball Oldtimers first team. As of this writing, the award winners for the 2025 baseball season have not yet been named. "Eric was a standout player who led by example and was a pleasure to coach," noted Mulligan.
As a team captain, Eric helped lead the Farrell freshman basketball team to the CHSAA A Division city title and a second-place finish on the JV.
"I'd like to thank the teachers and coaches, especially Coach Mulligan, for having my back, pushing me to be my best in the classroom and on the field," Eric said.
About The Varsity Club Award
"It is the most prestigious award given to a high school student-athlete on Staten Island," explained Rich Potter '66, Assistant Director of Athletics at Monsignor Farrell. Every one of the 13 Staten Island high schools nominates a senior who is well-rounded as an outstanding athlete, has a very strong academic record, and is a giving and caring person who performs school and community service.
"The Varsity Club Award has been presented to a young man almost every year since 1938 (the award for the female winner was established in 1984)," noted Potter.
Monsignor Farrell High School's first graduating class was in 1965. Just three years later, Mike O’Grady '67, was named the school's first Varsity Club Award Winner. "Since then, Monsignor Farrell has had the most winners (20) out of any other Staten Island High School, including some schools that have been around since 1938," said Potter, whose son Sean '07 won the award in 2007. A Farrell student-athlete received the award consecutively from 2011-2017.
All-Time Farrell Winners
Mike O'Grady - 1967
Brien O'Neill - 1971
Chris Ragucci - 1977
Chris Ventresca - 1984
Gary di Silvestri - 1985
Dan Black - 1990
Tom Wonica - 1992
Greg Guido - 1998
John Cassidy - 2005
Jeff Carbonella - 2006
Sean Potter - 2007
Tom Donegan - 2011
Steve Mezzacappa - 2012
John Bentivegna - 2013
Nick Lazzara - 2014
Julio Ruiz-Gomez - 2015
Mike Cloppse - 2016
Tom Pinto - 2017
Frank Scafuri IV - 2020
Eric Rodriguez - 2025