Baruch College junior pitcher Paul Sirakowski was named the CUNYAC/Hospital for Special Surgery Scholar-Athlete of the Month for April 2019.
Sirakowski has been the ace of the Bearcats' pitching staff in 2019. He has compiled a 5-1 record in eight appearances with 48 strikeouts and a 2.18 earned-run average.
A CUNYAC All-Star selection, Sirakowski has made key contributions in Baruch's run to the NCAA Tournament. He earned a complete-game win in the opener of a three-game set against Staten Island in the CUNYAC Championship and did not let up an earned run over eight innings in his start at Husson in the NCAA play-in series.
In the month of April, Sirakowski pitched 20.2 innings, allowing just four earned runs for an impressive 1.56 ERA. A nightmare for those he faced, Sirakowski fanned 18 batters during that stretch, as well.
While excelling on the mound, Paul has also impressed in the classroom with a 3.81 cumulative grade-point average. The mental fortitude of sports provides a framework that translates into Paul's studies.
"Needing to focus and get into your zone is the biggest similarity I have found," Paul said of the similarities between the field and the classroom. "Whether it's taking a difficult test, or pitching in a crucial game, the ability to block out all distractions and focus on the task at hand is critical in achieving and maintaining success on and off the field. I love to compete with my classmates on getting higher grades, and competing with opponents to perform better athletically."
The Finance major "strives to learn how successful financial strategies can be implemented at various levels of any business to help them achieve their goals." His interests range from creating financial models to stocks and bonds.
In preparation for life after baseball, Sirakowski has bolstered his resume with work experience. During the Fall 2018 semester, he was a finance intern at the Wednesday Agency. They are a creative marketing agency that produces advertising content for luxury clothing brands, such as Louis Vuitton and Givenchy. This summer, he will be working on a Revenue Support Cycle project, while interning with the finance department at New York Presbyterian Hospital.
You wouldn't have to look far to find the favorite moment of his collegiate career. He says it was "winning the CUNYAC Championship". Citing that it was a special moment for him to see the reactions of his senior teammates.
"Seeing the pure happiness and tears of joy on the faces of my brothers who I battled with all year was one of the most fulfilling and amazing moments of, not only my college career, but of my life. Together, we re-wrote history and set the program up for success in the years to come."