Staten Island, NY | The College of Staten Island women’s basketball and softball programs are proud to announce the celebratory signing of Bulkeley High School senior Erin Mairson. The Coventry, Connecticut, native is a three-sport star with the Bulldogs, but will concentrate her efforts on the hardwood and the diamond in 2018-19 for the Dolphins.
Mairson has made a habit of devoting most of her free time to athletics, occupying the back court during basketball season while mostly patrolling the area behind the plate for softball. When she took in the CSI campus on her visit, she knew she wanted to continue her education at CSI.
“I chose CSI not only because of the exceptional education program, but because it was the only school I visited where I truly felt at home,” she said. “From all of my future teammates that I met, to the outstanding coaches, I knew that once I found CSI I would not only never find another school that I was more in love with, but a group of teammates and coaches who cared for me more than those at CSI.”
As a year-round athlete, Mairson enjoyed her share of accolades on the fields of play. She was a first-team All-Conference player in softball, leading the Bulldogs in batting average, runs scored, and stolen bases, making every start in the process. A basketball Coach’s Award winner, Mairson was the team’s three-point shooting leader for the past two Bulldogs seasons. She was also a part of the Connecticut Northstars club program. Mairson, who was also the Bulldogs’ Most Valuable Player in volleyball and led the team in aces, does not immediately plan to play at CSI, but may attempt to join the team once she gets acclimated to college. Either way, she hopes to install positive energy to the Dolphins’ athletic program.
“I feel that my hardworking attitude and ability to be a team player will be a huge asset to both sports teams,” she said. “I was a late bloomer, and my sports careers didn’t really hit the ground running until my sophomore year. That being said, I know how it feels to be at the bottom. All my life I had to work twice as hard as everyone else to be a standout, and now that I did, I will not stop until I achieve greatness. Being part of both these amazingly successful teams at CSI, I know greatness is right at my fingertips.”
Coaches Tim Shanahan (basketball) and Stella Porto (softball) were both very high on Mairson entering their programs during the recruiting process. They expect her to hit the ground running and acclimate nicely with their highly competitive programs.
“Erin’s an athlete, plain and simple,” said Porto. “She played catcher in high school but I envision being able to put her anywhere on the field as a utility player. She has a strong arm and a good bat and I think she will definitely find a way to crack the lineup. She’s very evolved. A real good leader, academically sound, and someone who I think can mesh nicely with our team. I think CSI will be a great home for all of her athletic abilities.”
The daughter of Patrick and Kelly Mairson, Erin has an younger brother, Tyler, who currently plays basketball at Coventry High School, entering his junior year. An accomplished student, Mairson achieved Honor Roll her first three years of high school and earned high honors her senior year.
Both basketball and softball programs have had plenty of success. The basketball squad came off of a CUNYAC Championship season in 2016-17 and are coming off of back-to-back 20 win seasons, while the softball program has posted a CSI record six-straight CUNYAC Championships and NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament appearances.
