New York, NY - On Saturday, April 5, the bi-annual John Jay College of Criminal Justice Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was held at the Doghouse in the presence of over 150 family, friends, current and former student-athletes, coaches, staff, and campus administrators.

"I was so thrilled to honor this year's Hall of Fame Class, whose remarkable achievements left a lasting impact on John Jay College Athletics through service and accomplishment," Interim Director of Athletics Brandon Fieland said. "We couldn't be more proud to call them members of our John Jay College family and now in our Athletics Hall of Fame."

The Class of 2025, and 13th class in program history, consisted of Joseph Ayala (Baseball), Erkut Cakmak (Men's Tennis), Isaiah Holman (Men's Basketball), Natalia Kapitonova Villar (Women's Swimming), and the 1978 baseball team. 

Joseph Ayala was a three-year member of the baseball program from 2005 through 2007. The pitcher and third baseman appeared in 114 games and hit .327 with 108 hits, 17 doubles, 79 RBIs, and 68 runs scored.
 
On the mound, the Bronx native went 14-7, logging 150.1 innings with 130 strikeouts. Ayala won the CUNYAC Championship game in his senior season after throwing six innings. ​​He was named a CUNYAC all-star in both 2006 and 2007. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice in 2007, he joined the NYPD and served as a detective assigned to the Elite Gun Violence Suppression Division.
 
In July 2017, he was lauded as a hero after he and his partner confronted the suspect who killed NYPD Officer Miosotis Familia. For his actions, he was awarded the NYPD Combat Cross, the second-highest department award, granted to service members who have successfully and intelligently performed an act of extraordinary heroism.
 
Currently, Ayala serves as the President of the NYPD Hispanic Society and is a member of the NYPD Baseball team.

Erkut Cakmak was a three-year men's tennis program member from 2011 through 2013. He is now the second men's tennis player to get inducted into the Hall of Fame.
 
In his career, the right-hander finished an outstanding 34-7 at No. 1 singles and 16-6 in CUNYAC play. In his junior and senior campaigns, the two-time captain posted a 12-1 and 12-3 record at top singles, respectively. He was selected as the John Jay College Athlete of the Year in 2012.
 
In his senior season, the Istanbul, Turkey native finished 15-1 at top doubles. For his efforts, he was named the CUNYAC Player of the Year. He was also a first-team all-star in his first two seasons and a three-time Team Most Valuable Player. He graduated in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in International Criminal Justice and then earned a master's degree in Public Administration in 2016.
 
Cakmak returned to the men's tennis program in 2014, serving as an assistant coach, and is now a crime analyst for the Hamilton Police Service in Ontario, Canada.

Isaiah Holman was a four-year men's basketball program member from 2009 through 2014. The guard & forward appeared in 97 games and notched 1,185 points, 316 rebounds, 136 assists, and 93 steals. He is the school's all-time leader with 180 three-point field goals, and his 1,185 total points are currently seventh in program history.
 
In his senior season, the New York native finished with 17.5 points per game and 82 three-pointers. He shot almost 41% from behind the arc, which is still a school record. He led the CUNYAC in three-point field goal percentage and was 9th in field goal percentage. He was named a CUNYAC first-team all-star and Team MVP for his efforts and was selected as a finalist to play in the 2013 NCAA DIII Reese's College All-Star Game.
 
He graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor's in Culture and Deviant Studies. Following graduation, he played semi-professional basketball in the PBL and ABA. He also played professionally overseas in Canada and the Dominican Republic.
 
He is the Assistant Director of Youth Programs and Development on Roosevelt Island, an entrepreneur of his own music production company, and a music assistant and drummer at his church.

Natalia (Villar) Kapitonova, Esq. was a four-year member of the women's swimming team from 2002 through 2006. She is the first women's swimmer inducted into the Hall of Fame.

In her rookie season, Natalia was a two-time gold medalist in the 100 and 200 individual medley and was the Team's Most Valuable Player. In her sophomore year, the Lima, Peru native was a three-time medalist in the 100 butterfly, 500 freestyle, and 200 individual medley. In her junior season, Natalia was a medalist in the 200 individual medley, 500 freestyle, and 100 butterfly. She was invited to the ECAC Qualifier and was the first Bloodhound to represent John Jay in program history.

In her final season, the captain was a finalist in the 200 and 400 individual medley and 100 butterfly and was chosen as an All-American. She was awarded the CUNYAC Swimmer of the Year for her efforts and was the first Bloodhound swimmer to receive this honor. In addition, she was named the John Jay College Athlete of the Year, Team MVP, and the ECAC Merit Award recipient. She finished her John Jay career holding either the school or CUNY record in the 50 and 100 butterfly, 100 and 200 individual medley, and 500 freestyle.

Graduating in 2008 cum laude with a Bachelor's degree in government with a triple minor in law, history, and art. At commencement, she earned the Dr. Herbert Erlanger Award, which was given to a student-athlete with the highest GPA at graduation.  After John Jay, she received her JD from New York Law School and was on the Dean's honors list. She is the CEO of her law firm, which she co-owns with her husband, as a litigator in state and federal courts.

The 1978 baseball team finished 18-7 overall and went 8-0 in CUNYAC play. Their overall winning percentage of 72% is a school record and still stands over 45 years later. The team won the school's first-ever championship in any sport.

The program then qualified for the ECAC postseason for the first time in school history.  Bobby Mulligan was the first Bloodhound student-athlete to get drafted into a professional sports league when the Minnesota Twins drafted and signed him. 

Three team members are already in the College's Hall of Fame - Bobby Mulligan, Anthony Lamberti, and John Brant. 

The head coach was the legendary Lou DeMartino, who coached baseball at John Jay for 24 seasons and is the all-time winningest head coach in CUNY history.