Student-Athlete Of The Month: Nick Cicale

Between the lines, Nick Cicale is an all-state level catcher and one of Broadneck baseball’s cornerstone players. In the classroom and in the community, though, is where the junior really wants to leave his mark.

Cicale has garnered acclaim by the state’s collective coaching acumen, but it’s his work of serving others that really drives him to be the best version of himself.

In addition to helping lead his team and serve on the Broadneck Athletic Leadership Council, Cicale is already a volunteer firefighter, a veteran of the United States Naval Sea Cadet Corps, and a service academy hopeful.

Cicale joined the Cape Saint Claire Volunteer Fire Company in November of 2022, as soon as he was old enough. Since then, he’s completed a rigorous, monthslong fire training academy and gotten a national firefighter certification in case he wants to pursue that as a career.

“My mom and dad were both police officers, so growing up I’ve been devoted to a life of service and I’ve always wanted to help the community,” Cicale said. “I figured, if this is the quickest way I can help the community, I’m definitely interested.”

On the field, Cicale batted .350 last season and serves as Broadneck’s cleanup hitter. He was named a preseason all-state selection by the Maryland State Association of Baseball Coaches, one of two Bruins (Calvin Cook was the other) and four Anne Arundel County players to receive the recognition. He hopes to lead the Bruins to even loftier heights than they attained in 2023, when they won their first county championship.

“That was a big thing for us and it was really cool, but it really widened our guys’ horizons,” Cicale said. “Our school hasn’t won a state championship in a long time (since 1995).”

With the service academies firmly in mind, Cicale has worked hard in the classroom — he has a 4.2 GPA and is loading up on STEM classes — in the community as a volunteer firefighter and youth baseball coach, and in pre-military programs. He has been part of the Sea Cadet Corps for almost six years and has soaked up everything he can to prepare for his next dream move.

“It’s had a huge impact on me, and I did it to prepare myself for the military because I knew that’s what I want to do,” Cicale said. “We go on military drills, color guards, field operations, learning everything about the Navy, and participating in a lot of community events. I’ve made a lot of great buddies and learned a lot of things from some great leaders. The leaders are retired Navy and prior Marines, so lots of experience there.”

Baseball, volunteer firefighting, homework, community service, and other activities all eat up Cicale’s day-to-day schedule. But since he aspires to grind daily — and play ball — at a service academy after graduation, he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Sometimes I have to take a second to chill out, because it’s definitely a grind, but I love the grind,” Cicale said. “The grind has helped me so much over the years.”