SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The SUNYAC has named New Paltz's Jackie Rometo the 2023 Softball Scholar Athlete of the Year as nominated and voted on by the conference sports information directors. 

Rometo was the 2023 SUNYAC Softball Player of the Year and was named to the NFCA All-Region second team and the SUNYAC All-Tournament team. She holds a 3.94 overall GPA as a communications disorders major. Rometo led her team in batting average (.416), at-bats (154), runs (45), hits (64), doubles (14), triples (4), RBI (38), total bases (89), slugging percentage (.578) and stolen bases (20) with 12 walks and just six strikeouts. She's also one of the top outfielders in the conference with a .983 fielding percentage. Rometo and the Hawks finished the regular season as the No. 1 seed in the conference for the first time ever and ended the 2023 season with a 31-13 overall record.

During each season, the conference honors student-athletes for their efforts in their sport, as well as their academics. Out of hundreds of spring athletes, one athlete from each sport was selected for this distinction. In order to be eligible for the SUNYAC Scholar Athlete of the Year award student-athletes must prove both academic and athletic excellence by obtaining a minimum 3.30 overall GPA, be a starter or significant reserve for their team, and be at least a sophomore. The SUNYAC Scholar Athlete Award began in 2016-17.