Maria Cegledy

Classroom

Maria Cegledy maintains a perfect 4.0 GPA and will complete her undergraduate degree in exercise science this May. She will then attend physical therapy school at Ohio University. Cegledy was a 2019 CoSIDA Academic All-American Second-Team member. She has been recognized as a MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete each of the past two years and is a three-time NFCA Scholar-Athlete.

Character

A senior leader for this year’s Golden Flashes squad, Cegledy has been the leader among the team’s outfielders since her sophomore season. Despite struggling at the plate as a freshman, she secured a starting spot in centerfield down the stretch and helped Kent State earn a NCAA Tournament appearance in 2017. Cegledy’s dedication to the game has resulted in her following a hitless freshman season with back-to-back all-conference campaigns. Her on-field improvement is one of the many reasons why she is highly-respected by her teammates and coaching staff. She servs as a role model for younger players.

Cegledy loves to help other people, and it is this passion that has inspired her to pursue a career as a physical therapist.

Community

A passion for helping others has driven Cegledy to make an impact in the community. Each year on campus, she has volunteered at the nearby King Kennedy Center to assist in preparing peace baskets for families in need during the winter holiday season. She is an advocate for the softball team’s annual ‘She Will’ game, which is dedicated to promoting the participation of girls and women in sports. Cegledy is a member of Advancement Student-Athlete Ambassadors, an elite group selected to represent Kent State’s student-athletes in engagement with the generous athletics donors that help make it possible for a first-class college experience.

The most rewarding experience began during her freshman year when the team embraced and welcomed a local middle school student with a passion for softball, Cara Neumann, to the Kent State family during her battle with cancer. Cara joined the team in the dugout for home games that season and provided a much-needed morale boost as the Flashes won three elimination games on the final day of the conference tournament to earn the first NCAA bid since 2008. Unfortunately, Cara was taken from us prior to the 2018 season, but Cegledy and her teammates have kept her with them in spirit by hanging a #17 jersey in the dugout for all games. Additionally, a #17 flag flies above the Diamond at Dix during all home games.

Competition

A two-time All-MAC Second-Team performer in 2018 and 2019, Cegledy has a .315 batting average over the past two seasons. She has helped Kent State to a pair of postseason appearances, playing in the 2017 NCAA Tournament and 2019 NISC. Cegledy is one of the conference’s top defensive players and assists the Flashes’ pitching staff by covering a large area of the outfield. She has only one error during her time at Kent State and .994 career fielding percentage.