By Jim Hague
A little more than three years ago, when Nikki Sammartino was looking for a college to possibly attend, the North Arlington native who played basketball and softball at the now-defunct Queen of Peace was hoping for a place where she could continue to play both sports.
“I really wanted to do both,” Sammartino said. “It just didn’t work out that way.”
So Sammartino was first going to become a softball player at Rutgers-Newark. The school was just a stone’s throw from her home.
At that same time, Ashley Cieplicki was hired to become the new women’s basketball coach at Rutgers-Newark.
“When I first got the job, I looked at every single athlete in the school who could possibly play basketball,” Cieplicki said. “I saw online that Nikki was a 1,000-point scorer in basketball in high school. But at first, she didn’t want to play basketball.”
It took some intervention from a classmate and future coach to help Sammartino choose to come out for basketball at R-N.
“I was in a writing class with (former graduate assistant coach) Kerin Roche,” Sammartino said.
“We just started talking and she told me that I should go out for the team. I did miss playing basketball. I went to a practice and found out that I liked it.”
It also helped that Nicole Skelly, one of Sammartino’s AAU basketball teammates with the North Jersey Celtics (a team that has been coached and organized by Skelly’s father Chris), was on the Scarlet Raiders’ roster.
“Nicole and I have played basketball together since second grade,” Sammartino said. “It helped that I knew someone on the team.”
Sammartino wondered if she could handle the grind as being a two-sport collegiate athlete.
“I thought it would be a challenge,” Sammartino said. “But I missed playing basketball so much, so I went for it.”
“Nikki is a very hard worker,” Cieplicki said. “She also takes her schoolwork very seriously. She came to a preseason workout and she was fine. She was probably the hardest worker we have.”
Sammartino quickly became a fixture on the Scarlet Raiders, starting at center in 23 of the team’s 25 contests that season. She averaged nearly 30 minutes per game, grabbing 5.3 rebounds and scoring 4.4 points per game that season.
“I didn’t expect that at all,” Sammartino said. “I thought it was cool to get the experience to start.”
“She did whatever we needed to have done,” Cieplicki said. “She did all the little things. She does all the things that no one else wants to do, diving on the floor, picking up charges, getting to loose balls. She bought in and wants the team to do so well.”
Last season, Sammartino played in all 28 games and started in 26 of those. She averaged four rebounds and two points per contest.
Sammartino had to adjust to a different role than the one she enjoyed in high school. She was no longer being called upon to be a scorer.
“It was a little different, but we had other scorers on the team,” Sammartino said. “I didn’t mind taking on the different role. I had to adjust a little.”
Sammartino’s personality was also a key component to the Scarlet Raiders’ success.
“She loves it,” Cieplicki said. “She’s always having fun. The only time she’s not having fun is when she’s studying for finals. She cares so much about her grades. Our basketball team is like a family and we want it to be that way. Nikki has a lot of personality and brings brightness to the team.”
Added Cieplicki, “I’m usually the one to like things serious, but Nikki is the one who is bound to do something funny. We have a good time at practice.”
This season, Sammartino has played a lesser role.
“It’s different, because we have more scorers on the team,” Sammartino said. “I’m taking on a different role and I had to adjust. I understood that I wasn’t a true big (center) and when we got some bigs, I understood. I basically went with it.”
Over the first 14 games of the season, Sammartino played sparingly.
But last week, when the Scarlet Raiders faced New Jersey City University with a depleted front line, Sammartino was called into action - and like the true teammate she is, Sammartino responded in a huge way.
Sammartino scored 14 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in a Scarlet Raider victory.
“Honestly, I just got in there and played,” Sammartino said. “I didn’t even think about what was going on. I didn’t realize I had a double-double (double figures in points and rebounds) until after the game. I think I may have had one once before. But this was great, playing a lot, scoring and contributing to the team.”
Sammartino is a math major with a minor in education. Her goal is to become a high school math teacher. Although she is a senior, Sammartino will have another year of eligibility remaining if she chooses to play while doing her student teaching.
“I don’t know if I will be able to do both,” Sammartino said. “We have to see. If I’m able to swing it, I’ll give it a try.”
But the former softball player became a solid contributor on the hardwood. It’s funny how things just turn out sometimes.
“It’s a rare scenario to have an athlete play two sports,” said Cieplicki, whose sophomore center Comfort Akinbo is also a member of the R-N women’s volleyball team. “It’s very difficult to do. You need things to be perfect to be able to do two.”
“It’s definitely been a big change for me,” Sammartino said. “I’m making the most out of it right now. I just want to end my career on a good note.”
One thing’s for sure. Cieplicki will never forget her humble beginnings, thanks to the lively former softball player.
“Nikki and I have a great friendship,” Cieplicki said. “We have bonds to last a lifetime now. Thank God Nikki was here when I took the job.”
