The Liberty League is celebrating its 25th anniversary during the 2019-2020 academic year. Originally founded as the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association (UCAA) in 1995, the conference was renamed the Liberty League during the summer of 2004. Each Thursday throughout the year, the Liberty League will be celebrating its silver anniversary by recognizing outstanding teams and individuals from its rich 25-year history.
One of the most decorated men’s basketball players in the Liberty League’s 25-year history, Skidmore College standout Edvinas Rupkus excelled both on the hardwood and in the classroom. A two-time All-American and four-time All-Liberty League first-team selection, Rupkus is the league’s all-time leading scorer, having amassed 2,128 career points from 2015 through 2019. Union College’s John Cagianello, who scored 2,006 career points from 2002 to 2006, is the only other player in the 25-year history of the Liberty League/UCAA to reach the 2,000-point plateau for his career.
"There are no words or numbers that can accurately describe Ed’s impact on this program and this institution," said Skidmore men's basketball coach Joe Burke. "He came here with extremely high expectations and somehow managed to fulfill those and then some. He turned away three Division I scholarships because he thought Skidmore would be a better fit. He graduated with 2,128 points, two league titles, three NCAA tournament appearances, almost a 4.0 GPA, two conference player of the year awards, and first team All-American and Academic All-American honors. In my 24 years of coaching at all three levels Ed is the greatest student-athlete I have ever been around."
Even from his freshman season in 2015-16, Rupkus played a leading role for the Thoroughbreds. When reigning Liberty League Co-Player of the Year, senior guard Aldin Medunjanin was lost for the season after just five games due to an injury, Skidmore’s hopes of repeating as Liberty League champion appeared to suffer a major blow. But the emergence of Rupkus as a key player was exactly the boost the Thoroughbreds needed. The rookie recorded a team-leading 17.2 points along with 5.5 rebounds per game in leading Skidmore to a 19-9 overall record. Selected as the Liberty League Rookie of the Year and All-Liberty League first-team selection, Rupkus led the Thoroughbreds to a second straight league title and NCAA tournament first-round win over Franklin & Marshall. He scored 20 or more points 11 times, including a season-high of 28 points twice, the second coming in an 88-80 loss to 20th-ranked Tufts in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
With Medunjanin back for the 2016-17 season, Rupkus flourished in his role as a scorer. He led the Thoroughbreds in scoring (20.7), rebounding (7.4), field goal percentage (.560) and free throw percentage (.883) while ranking second in the Liberty League in scoring and first in free throw percentage. He broke the Skidmore single-game record with 42 points at St. Lawrence on Feb. 17. Despite clinching the Liberty League regular-season title with a 14-2 record, Skidmore was upset by Hobart in the tournament semifinals. Nevertheless, the Thoroughbreds earned an at-large berth to the NCAA tournament where they knocked off New Jersey City University 75-67. Skidmore hung tough on the road against third-ranked Babson, falling 72-65 for a final record of 20-8. Babson went on to win the national championship, finishing 31-2. Rupkus was a repeat selection on the All-Liberty League first team while also earning a spot on the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) all-district team.
As a junior in 2017-18, Rupkus was a steady presence for a team that battled youth and injuries throughout the season. Statistically, he posted the strongest offensive numbers of his career with a Skidmore single-season record 594 points. He averaged a Liberty League-leading 22.0 points per game while ranking third in the league in field goal percentage (.505) and fifth in free throw percentage (.826). As the fifth seed in the Liberty League tournament, Skidmore would have to win on the road to earn the league title. Behind Rupkus, the Thoroughbreds nearly did. He notched a season-high 39 points to lead Skidmore to a 68-62 come-from-behind win at Ithaca in the first round. Against top-seeded Hobart in the semifinals, he scored 16 points in a 63-60 victory. In the championship game against Union, Rupkus scored 15 points in the first half, but was sidelined due to an injury the entire second half as the Dutchmen won 82-65 to capture their second straight league title. In addition to earning All-Liberty League honors for the third straight season, Rupkus was selected as Liberty League Player of the Year and an NABC second team All-American.
Not to be deterred in returning to the NCAA tournament for a third time in his career, Rupkus repeated as Liberty League Player of the Year as a senior in 2018-19 after ranking third in the league in scoring (17.5 ppg), first in free throw percentage (.874) and second in three-point field goal percentage (.442). The Thoroughbreds returned to the top of the Liberty League standings, claiming the regular-season title with a 15-3 record. Behind a 31-point effort from Rupkus, Skidmore held off Ithaca, 82-77, in the semifinals to advance to the championship. He followed with a game-high 22 points as the Thoroughbreds defeated Hobart, 82-66, in the championship game to claim the Liberty League title and NCAA tournament automatic bid.
An All-Liberty League selection for the fourth time in his career, the accolades began to pour in for the greatest player in the history of the Skidmore program. Rupkus was selected as an NABC first team All-American and All-East District Player of the Year. A three-time qualifier for the Liberty League’s All-Academic Team, Rupkus was selected as a CoSIDA Academic All-America selection each of the three seasons in which he was eligible (first-year student-athletes are not eligible for the award). A double major in business and economics, Rupkus compiled an impressive 3.94 grade point average. Following his graduation in 2019, he was selected as the Liberty League’s Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, an award presented to one graduating senior across all sports who has demonstrated excellence in athletics, academics and service/leadership.
25th Anniversary Spotlight Series:
10/24/2019 - 1999 St. Lawrence University Men's Soccer
10/31/2019 - Sara Artus, Clarkson University, Volleyball (2008-2011)
11/7/2019 - Ali Marpet, Hobart College, Football (2011-2015)
11/14/2019 - 1997 William Smith College Field Hockey
11/21/2019 - Grant O'Connor, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Cross Country/Track & Field (2015-2019)
11/28/2019 - Andrew Franks, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Football (2011-2015)
12/5/2019 - 2013 William Smith College Women's Soccer
12/12/2019 - John Coleman, Clarkson University, Basketball and Baseball (2011-2015)
12/19/2019 - Nickie Griesemer, Ithaca College, Swimming & Diving (2013-2018)
1/2/2020 - Kelly Donnelly, Skidmore College, Women's Basketball (2014-2018)
1/9/2020 - Richie Bonney, Hobart College, Men's Basketball (2010-2014)
1/16/2020 - Taryn Cordani, Ithaca College, Cross Country/Track & Field (2014-2018)
1/30/2020 - Amr Khalifa, St. Lawrence University, Men's Squash (2012-2016)
2/6/2020 - Cydni Matsuoka, Vassar College, Women's Basketball (2010-2014)