Nicole Pagano: A Journey to Athletic Excellence – From St. Joseph Academy to Mount St. Mary University Athletic Hall of Fame

St. Joseph Academy is proud to announce that one of its own, Nicole Pagano, Class of 2009, has been nominated for induction into the Mount St. Mary University Athletic Hall of Fame this January. Nicole's athletic achievements, both in high school and during her collegiate career, have solidified her place among the best in her sport, and her recognition by Mount St. Mary University is a testament to her hard work, dedication, and talent.

From St. Joseph Academy to National Recognition

Nicole’s journey to athletic greatness began at St. Joseph Academy, where she quickly made her mark as a dominant force on the softball field. As a standout student-athlete, she showcased her natural ability, leadership, and relentless drive to succeed. Over the course of her high school career, Nicole was a four-year letterwinner on the St. Joseph Academy softball team and served as team captain in her final two seasons.

Her stats speak for themselves: she holds the school record for strikeouts in a season (343) and career (632), which remains an impressive benchmark to this day. One of the highlights of her high school career came in 2007, when she tossed a perfect game against Holy Spirit. Nicole’s pitching excellence earned her numerous honors, including being named the Coaches Association Pitcher of the Year in 2008.

Her excellence on the field was recognized by the broader South Jersey community as well. She earned spots on the All-Cape Atlantic League first team, The Press of Atlantic City All-Press first-team, the Courier Post All-South Jersey team, the Courier Post All-Non Public first team, and the Star Ledger All-State Non-Public first team in each of her first three seasons. Nicole also helped lead her team to the Cape Atlantic League Conference championships in her first three seasons and played a key role in her team’s victory in the Non-Public Group B South Jersey title in 2007.

In addition to softball, Nicole also played field hockey for three years and served as team captain during her senior season, further showcasing her leadership and dedication to athletics.

A Star at Mount St. Mary University

Nicole's athletic success followed her to Mount St. Mary University, where she played for the Mountaineers' softball team. Her collegiate career was nothing short of extraordinary, with multiple All-Conference selections and numerous accolades highlighting her remarkable skill set.

In her 2014 season, Nicole was named a Second Team All-Northeast Conference pitcher and earned Third Team All-Northeast Region honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. She posted a 15-13 record with 25 starts in 31 appearances and threw two no-hitters, 23 complete games, and eight shutouts. Her dominant performance led her to set school records for single-season wins (15), strikeouts (209), and earned run average (1.18). Her 1.18 ERA ranked fifth in Division I, and she averaged 8.19 strikeouts per seven innings, recording six games with 10 or more strikeouts.

Nicole’s senior season was one for the record books. She graduated first in school history with 53 career wins, 662 strikeouts, and 641.1 innings pitched. She also ranks in the top 10 on Mount St. Mary’s career lists for games pitched (tied for 1st with 116), ERA (2nd with a 1.99), and winning percentage (3rd with a .535). Some of her most memorable moments include fanning 14 batters in a loss to Binghamton, tossing a complete-game five-hitter with 10 strikeouts in a win over UMBC, and throwing a no-hitter with 10 strikeouts against Sacred Heart, breaking the Mount’s career wins record.

In 2013, Nicole was named Second Team All-Northeast Conference and set the program's record with 173 strikeouts in a season. She made 32 appearances and had a 14-9 record, with a 2.39 ERA. She had double-digit strikeouts on five occasions and tossed a complete-game three-hitter with five strikeouts in a win over Florida A&M. One of her standout performances came when she struck out 14 batters in a complete-game shutout against Central Connecticut State.

In 2012, she had another stellar season, earning Second Team All-Northeast Conference honors. She pitched 154.0 innings with an 11-11 record, a 1.77 ERA, and struck out 147 batters. Nicole hurled two no-hitters during the season, one against UMBC and another against Rhode Island. She also threw a complete-game one-hitter in a 1-0 win over Stetson and a shutout against St. Bonaventure with 14 strikeouts.

Her 2011 season saw her record a 9-12 record with a 3.15 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 124.1 innings pitched. She had nine strikeouts in a complete-game win against Iona and tossed a three-hit shutout with eight strikeouts against Coppin State.

Legacy and Hall of Fame Nomination

Nicole’s nomination to the Mount St. Mary University Athletic Hall of Fame is a well-deserved recognition of her incredible achievements as both a softball player and a leader. Throughout her career, she demonstrated the qualities of a true student-athlete: dedication, perseverance, and a passion for excellence.

Her induction into the Hall of Fame will be a moment of celebration for both St. Joseph Academy and Mount St. Mary University.