As NC State baseball begins to turn the page toward another season, arguably the top returning arm looking to an impact again is starting pitcher Ryan Marohn.
The Wolfpack recently wrapped up a productive fall slate that included scrimmages against regional powers and a trip to Washington, D.C. For Marohn, the energy and chemistry within this year’s group stand out as much as anything on the field.
“We’re a new team, we’re really excited,” Marohn said. “Wrapping up the fall here, it’s been a really good fall. A bunch of new guys, a bunch of returners—we’re happy to be here.”
That mix of old and new was on display when NC State squared off with Wake Forest last weekend. For many players, including transfers and freshmen, it was their first taste of live competition in a Wolfpack uniform.
“It was good,” Marohn said. “A bunch of new guys went out, I think it was all first-year guys—whether it was a transfer or freshman—who threw in that game. We had a bunch of new guys in the lineup as well as returners, and that was really fun to see. Everyone played really hard, which we were happy about, and we ended up coming out with the win. Wake was a very good team, and we’re excited to play them again in May.”
But the fall hasn’t just been about baseball. Elliott Avent and his staff also made sure to use the trip as an educational experience, taking the team through historic landmarks in the nation’s capital.
“I’m from Northern Virginia, so I’ve seen a lot of that before,” Marohn said. “But going back there, that was my first time in the Capitol. I think most of the guys, it was their first time there, which was really cool. We had a congressman speak to us, which was very cool—a great guy, super, super cool experience. We got to see the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and that was just incredible. Arlington Cemetery and the memorials were very special. It was just a really good trip—not just for baseball, but for everything.”
As the fall comes to a close, Marohn’s focus is on continued growth—both physically and mentally.
“Last fall I came in and didn’t really know what my role was going to be,” he said. “This year I don’t really know either, but I’m just going out there trying to prove myself every day and get better every day. That’s really all I’m trying to do.”
The Wolfpack enter this upcoming season with high expectations, and while Marohn admits the group doesn’t talk much about long-term goals in October, there’s an unmistakable sense of quiet confidence.
“So far it’s been a really good fall,” he said. “Obviously, a bunch of new guys, but so far it’s been really good, and I’m excited for what’s to come. Everyone’s just trying to get better as a team—we all have the same collective goals. We’re just taking it one day at a time.”
Asked which teammate has impressed him most this fall, Marohn didn’t hesitate to praise one of NC State’s emerging bats.
“If I had to point someone out, I’d say Rhett Johnson,” he said. “He’s been unbelievable. He’s a super tough out, plays the game really hard, just kind of fits that NC State vibe—playing hard, playing tough. That goes for everyone, not just Rhett, but he’s got a really bright future.”
What’s next for the Wolfpack after the UNC matchup?
“We’ll be done with official team practice,” Marohn explained. “We’ll do individual stuff then, and it’s really just about getting our bodies right and getting everything ready to go for February and the start of the season.”
For Marohn, the focus remains simple—keep improving, stay healthy, and help NC State position itself for another deep postseason run. The foundation, he says, is already being built this fall.
