Rutgers-Newark Athletics

When Pia Malcampo was a little girl, growing up in Jersey City, she had one dream.

"I wanted to play college basketball," Malcampo said. "I became really serious about it when I played in high school."
 
However, while Malcampo was attending St. Mary's of Jersey City, the school decided to drop basketball.
 
"There were some injuries and some others didn't want to play," Malcampo said. "I was the valedictorian of my senior class. Because of that, I decided to stay at the school. I then decided that I was not going to play college basketball and was going to focus more on my school work."

Malcampo went almost on a college tour circuit. Upon graduation from St. Mary's, which has since closed, Malcampo first attended St. Peter's University, then Passaic County Community College.
 
"I didn't play basketball for four years," Malcampo said. "I didn't touch a ball for four years. But while I was at Passaic, I touched the ball again and it spiked my interests. I wanted to play right away, but I found out I wasn't eligible. I had to stick around and get my associate's degree."
 
After Malcampo attained her associate's at Passaic County, she never thought she'd end up at Rutgers-Newark.
 
"When I first applied for schools, I wanted to be an FBI agent," Malcampo said. "But I had a change of heart and wanted to go pre-med."
 
Malcampo realized two things as she was applying to four-year schools.
 
"I knew that Rutgers had a very good science program," Malcampo said. "I also wanted to play college basketball. I knew that Alisha McLean went from my school, St. Mary's, to Rutgers-Newark and played there. It was always one of my goals. I thought I could give it a try."
 
Malcampo said there's a motto she lives by.
 
"Don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't do anything," Malcampo said. "Especially things that intimidate you. You can do anything you want, if you just put the time and effort into it."
 
Malcampo decided to try out for the team at Rutgers-Newark. She first contacted then-head coach Kevin Morris, who has since left the school.
 
"I thought it was crazy, but I knew that I just had to do it and I knew I could do it," Malcampo said. "I hadn't played in such a long time, but I loved the challenge. I'm a very stubborn person. If I want something, I stick to it."
 
Malcampo said that she was encouraged by playing with some of the current members on the Scarlet Raiders' roster.
 
"I was playing with Maria (Simmons), Arianna (Williams) and Shala (Glenn)," Malcampo said. "I'm playing with the best players in the NJAC. I was learning so much from them and from the coaching staff."
 
Ashley Cieplicki took over the Rutgers-Newark women's basketball program this year and noticed Malcampo right away.
 
"She's a gym rat," Cieplicki said. "She works every day and works hard every day. She comes in and asks questions about what she has to do. She wants to be prepared."
 
Even though Malcampo doesn't receive a lot of playing time, she gets ready as if she's going to play 40 minutes.
 
"I have to be ready if I'm going to play," Malcampo said. "I prepare as if I'm going to play."
 
Malcampo is set to graduate in May with an associate's degree in chemistry in the Rutgers-Newark Honors Program. Malcampo is carrying a 3.7 grade point average overall and a 3.5 at R-N. She's also set to apply to medical schools in June, once she finishes the second publication in her Honors thesis.
 
"This one involves chemistry with host guest systems," Malcampo said. "We're trying to fix the energy efficiency rating. If we can get it to work, it might be important down the road. We can put it in the body and help patients with heart implants or in the nervous system. If it works, it would be awesome. You never know."
 
Juggling a pre-med scholastic schedule with her athletic commitments to the Scarlet Raiders certainly isn't easy.
 
"It's been a challenge," Malcampo said. "It's a lot of work, but it's fulfilling."
 
Cieplicki loves what Malcampo brings to her program.
 
"She's funny and quiet," Cieplicki said. "We have a team full of jokesters and she fits right in. She says something and she means it. She's always in deep thought. She asks me things that I can't give her the answer for. I think that's why she's going to be a doctor, because she asks so many questions. She loves basketball and loves being part of the team."
 
Cieplicki said that she received a text earlier in the season, when the Scarlet Raiders started to struggle a little.
 
"The text said, 'Don't worry. We believe in you. You're going to do great things,''' Cieplicki said. "She reassures me every day. She gave me something to believe in. It was nice to hear that from her. I'm definitely keeping that text."
 
Cieplicki was asked what it was like to have a future doctor on the team in her first year.
 
"I think it's pretty cool," Cieplicki said. "Hopefully, I can get her some more playing time. She's certainly prepared herself for that. She's the kind of student-athlete that you want to have. She's thriving here. It shows what you can do if you put your mind to it."
 
"When I graduate, I can say I've done a lot," Malcampo said. "Rutgers provided me a chance to fulfill my dreams. It's been fun. This is like my second family."
 
And if any R-N student has a problem with energy efficiency, feel free to call Malcampo.