This edition of our Ranger Spotlight highlights the achievements of Delaney O’Donoghue (‘25), a standout student-athlete who balances the demands of rigorous academics and high-level collegiate athletics.
A double major in marketing and business, O’Donoghue has made a lasting impact on the field and in the classroom. She exemplifies what it means to be a well-rounded scholar-athlete—excelling in both areas with focus, determination and leadership.
Since arriving at Drew in the 2021–22 academic year, O’Donoghue has developed into a vocal leader and critical player for the softball team. As a captain and starting catcher, she commands the field with precision and poise.
After spending her first season alternating between third base and catcher, she stepped fully into the catching role as a sophomore, solidifying her presence behind the plate and elevating the team’s defensive strategy.
In 2022, she appeared in 33 games, made 31 starts, and posted five multi-hit performances, while throwing out four would-be base stealers. The following season, she started in 20 of 24 games, notching 12 hits and 10 RBIs.
Standout performances include a 3-for-5 game with three RBIs against Alverno and a dominant 3-for-4 effort with three runs and three RBIs in a win over Centenary. Whether at bat or behind the plate, O’Donoghue consistently demonstrates grit and game-changing ability.
Among her favorite moments as a Ranger, one memory stands out above the rest: going to Hawaii over spring break.
“It was a dream come true to play softball in such a beautiful place with people I love so much,” said O’Donoghue.
In the classroom, O’Donoghue has demonstrated consistent academic excellence. She has earned Dean’s List recognition on multiple occasions and is a two-time Landmark Conference Academic Honor Roll honoree—a distinction reserved for student-athletes who have reached sophomore athletic standing and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.20 or higher.
The upper-level Sports Marketing course, taught by Professor Rob Roche, has been her favorite class at Drew.
“We got to do really unique projects with a lot of creative freedom and Professor Roche made everyone engaged with the content by being funny and talking about real world scenarios,” said O’Donoghue.
Reflecting on her journey as a student-athlete, O’Donoghue shared the impact it’s had on both her academic and personal life.
“Being a college-athlete has instilled a lot of discipline and structure for me. Academically, I have been more productive and learned time management skills and personally I learned that it’s important to have fun with everything,” said O’Donoghue. “Life is too short. Go for it and go all out because you won’t regret it.”
Now in her senior season, O’Donoghue continues to lead with heart and hustle. Her journey is a testament to the spirit of what it means to be a Ranger—focused, driven and committed to making every moment count.
If you would like to nominate another student-athlete to be featured in future issues, please send their name to theacorn+sports@drew.edu.
Benjamin Castro is a senior double majoring in marketing and business.
