Edwin Marrero, an all-star catcher for Borough of Manhattan Community College with a 3.49 GPA, was named the CUNY Athletic Conference / Hospital For Special Surgery Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Month for April 2011.
“After Graduating High School in 2003 I wasn’t sure what to do with my life or what college to go to so I enlisted in the Marines,” the 26-year old veteran said. “I was sent to Iraq by the end of the year in 2003 and would stay there until the end of 2004, as part of an Anti Terrorism Force Protection (ATFP) unit.” The ATFP secures the gates and goes on patrol around their base to ensure the safety of his fellow soldiers. From 2007 through 2008 Edwin was stationed in Japan where he was an Aviation Technician. He would work on the Units F-18’s planes and ensured all of the planes electronics were functioning properly.
Marrero’s unselfishness extends to the baseball field, where he has been the team’s primary catcher for each of the last two seasons. A catcher on a baseball team is an extremely challenging position, you have to be mentally focused, in sync with the pitcher on the mound, and get into a squatting position approximately 200 times a day- with all the equipment on. Yet Head Coach Abe Negron never heard his leader complain or do anything to detract from the mission on the field.
“The fact that he is a good baseball player is a plus; but the positive attitude he has towards everything is not only contagious but motivating at the same time,” said Negron. “As one of the team captains Edwin finds it very easy to lead not only by example but be a peer as well. He is the type of guy that will take his teammates under his wing and help them study and tutor them in any class they are having trouble with.”
He enrolled at BMCC in the fall of 2009 and is in his fourth semester at the Downtown Manhattan school. A team captain for the Panthers, he batted .372 in April (11 Games played) with 19 Hits, 3 doubles, 9 runs scored, and 9 runs batted in. Marrero ended the season hitting .365 and in his two seasons at BMCC, he hit .371 (going 52 for 140 at the plate) with eight doubles, two homeruns, and 27 RBI’s.
He was both excited and surprised when he was told of his selection for the award. “I never thought about winning anything, I just did my best at whatever I was told to do. I was glad to be nominated for such an award; it shows all the hard work pays off. It’s so easy to fall off track as you can always find something else to get into rather than practice or schoolwork.”
Marrero is Liberal Arts major who is looking to continue his education in the Physical Therapy field. “I want a career where I can be involved with sports for the rest of my life. I even began coaching a summer team in a local league where I can begin to get my feet wet.”
“I’m very grateful that I am still playing baseball competitively and be able to attend school after a long absence and be recognized with this award. It’s incredible and it keeps me motivated for future endeavors.”