At Rensselaer, we are proud to recognize the student-athletes who are members of the Class of 2020. We thank them for their hard work, dedication and tremendous efforts in representing the Institute in a first-class manner academically and athletically. We wish them well in all their futures. 

While at Rensselaer:
Throws … Had 17 career wins (shot put 7x, weight throw 5x, discus 4x, hammer throw 1x) … Liberty League Champion six times (SP 2x, disc 2x, HT 1x, WT 1x) …Had 17 career runner-ups ... Liberty League Championship Field Athlete of Meet three times … Mathematics major ... Dean's Honor List.

Favorite sports memory during career?
"My first time winning Track Performer of the Meet at my sophomore Indoor Liberty Leagues. I just couldn't resist smiling when my name was called and I loved feeling the support of our team." - April 2020

What makes Rensselaer so special?
"I was able to enjoy my classes, succeed as an athlete, get a job, and make friends. What more could I ask for?" - April 2020

What are your post-graduation plans?
"I have a full-time job lined up. I will try and compete in Connecticut's Nutmeg State games every year as I am the defending champion for hammer and runner-up for shot put. Also, I want to give rugby another try now that I don't have to worry about injuries upsetting coach." - April 2020

From the coaching staff:
"Mark is one of our most determined athletes. While watching him I have seen him overcome any obstacle in his way. He finds ways to overcome adversity no matter the circumstance. He is resourceful and determined to never let anything, including countless nagging injuries, get in his way of achieving his goals. He has a firm belief in himself, which is a rarity in today's world. He has shown me to never cast doubt or allow others to. He will always push forward and I have no doubt he will achieve his goals in life whether they are large or small. I can't wait to hear about the great things you accomplish in the future!" - March 2020 

What others say:
"He could never fail to be friends with anyone he talked to. He always had a way of entering a conversation with the sole intention to get to know you better and you could always tell he would be there for you. I am going to miss all of the rabbit hole conversations we had together." - March 2020

"Best teammate I could have ever asked for. Mark is always upbeat, never upset, and always going with the flow, which made him such a great thrower. The joy he got from throwing made everyone smile, and he never backed down from any challenge. His want to win pushed him and his calmness under pressure led him to incredible success, making him one of the greatest throwers RPI has ever had." - March 2020

"Mark worked hard through his injuries and continued to dominate the league. Together, Mark, Cam and Marco brought many laughs and smiles to each throws practice." - March 2020

"Mark is a big guy with a big heart! He was one of the first people I met on the team, and was so excited to hear he was also a walk-on. He's an incredible thrower, and really awesome teammate too." - April 2020

"Mark was a great athlete and friend. During the preseason, he could be counted on to help shape the underclassmen into respectable throwers, and could always be counted on for advice, whether track or school related. He was always determined to improve, and help others improve along with him." - April 2020

"He is a beast and one of the hardest working dudes on the team. He will go down as one of the most prolific winners in RPI Track & Field history. He single-handedly helped the team win multiple Liberty League Championships. He is a great friend and will have great success outside of the sport." - April 2020

All Senior Celebration Series pieces are available by clicking HERE.