SUNYAC Athletes of the Week - December 8, 2025
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The SUNYAC selects its winter Athletes of the Week recognizing 18 student-athletes from 11 different member institutions for their noteworthy performances during the week of December 1-7.
Men's Basketball Athlete of the Week - Reem Welch, Plattsburgh
Welch posted a double-double average, guiding Plattsburgh to two conference victories this week. He scored an average of 24.5 points per game on 69 percent shooting while pulling down 11 rebounds per game. His impact extended across the floor, contributing 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game as well. He delivered standout performances in both contests, beginning the weekend with a double-double against Fredonia, where he led all players with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Welch continued his dominant play against Buffalo State, recording another double-double with 24 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and three steals—all team highs. The senior guard is off to a stellar start, currently leading the conference in points, rebounds, and assists per game.
Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week - Jackie Funk, Cortland
Funk averaged 21 points and 5.5 rebounds per game as Cortland opened SUNYAC play with two victories. She shot 60 percent from the field (15-of-25), including 63 percent (5-of-8) from 3-point range, and she made all seven of her free throws. On Friday evening, Funk scored 16 points and pulled down seven rebounds in a 61-46 win over Oswego. The following day, she made 9-of-14 shots overall, and 3-of-4 from 3-point range, and finished with a career-high 26 points in a 61-48 win over previously unbeaten Canton. Two of her 3-pointers started a crucial 13-4 fourth-quarter run that extended a 44-39 lead to 57-43.
Men's Ice Hockey Athlete of the Week - Nathan Garnier, Cortland
Garnier was the standout performer in a pair of Cortland victories over the weekend, providing six points on four goals and two assists, and tallying one game-winning goal. In a 6-2 home victory over Potsdam on Friday evening, the sophomore scored three times on four shots, including netting the game-winning goal, and also added an assist. He followed it up by registering a goal and an assist in a 6-1 win over Canton on Saturday, assisting on the opening goal of the game and scoring Cortland's fourth goal late in the second period.
Men's Ice Hockey Goaltender of the Week - Joshua Seeley, Skidmore
Seeley stopped 29 out of the 30 shots he saw on Saturday to lead the Thoroughbreds to a 4-1 road win at Fredonia on Saturday. Four of his saves came on Blue Devil power plays to keep the hosts scoreless with the man advantage and earn his third victory of the season.
Men's Ice Hockey Rookie of the Week - Lucas Signoretti, Buffalo State
Signoretti had a strong showing for the Bengals as they went 2-1 on the week. Signoretti totaled six points with two goals and four assists capped off with a goal and two assists in the team's win over Skidmore. Signoretti has also tallied at least one point in all but one game this season.
Women's Ice Hockey Athlete of the Week - Riley Andzel, Canton
Andzel recorded three goals and a +2 on-ice rating in a pair of wins last weekend for the Roos. She scored two first period goals in a 3-1 win at Chatham on Friday. The junior closed out the weekend scoring an empty-net goal in the third period of a 3-0 win against the Cougars on Saturday. Andzel ranks third with seven points on four goals and three assists this season for the Roos.
Women's Ice Hockey Goaltender of the Week - Molly Lenihan, Canton
Lenihan combined to stop 47 of the 48 shots she faced (.979 save percentage) in a pair of road wins at Chatham on Friday and Saturday. In Friday's 3-1 victory she made 27 saves including 21 over the final two periods. Lenihan followed that up with a 20 save shutout in a 3-0 win against the Cougars on Saturday. That marked her first shutout of the season and the fifth of her career.
Women's Ice Hockey Rookie of the Week - Julia Echavarria, William Smith
Echavarria made her collegiate debut on Friday night. She stopped 30 of the 32 shots she faced as she earned her first collegiate victory. Echavarria made 12 saves in the second and third period. The biggest sequence came in final 30 seconds when she made two saves with Manhattanville had not only a power-play but an extra attacker as they pushed for an equalizer.
Men's Swimmer of the Week - Alex Gorzula, New Paltz
The Hawks participated in the Snow Flurries Mid-Season Invitational hosted by Cortland State. Gorzula won first in both the men's heat of the 200-yard individual medley (1:57.29) and the 400-yard individual medley (4:21.75). Gorzula also earned first in the men's 200-yard breaststroke, with a time of 2:10.05. He led off the Hawks first place men's 400-yard relay with a time of 3:17.13. He also led off their third place 400-yard medley relay (3:43.11) and fourth place 200-yard medley relay (1:40.55).
Men's Diver of the Week - Kevin Kohlhoff, Cortland
Kohlhoff won both diving events at the five-team Cortland Snow Flurries Invitational. He won 3-meter diving with an 11-dive score of 465.83 points and the 1-meter board with a score of 470.25 points.
Women's Swimmer of the Week - Jayna Laferriere, Oswego
Laferriere delivered a standout multi-event performance. She won the 200 free in 2:01.34 and followed that with a commanding win in the 100 free in 55.00 . She also placed second in the 50 free (25.53) and led off Oswego's winning 200 free relay that finished in 1:43.90.
Women's Diver of the Week - Leah Marsh, Fredonia
Marsh scored a 232.80 off the 1m board, then put up a score of 248.18 off the 3m board. She took first place in both events when the Devils took on Genesee Community College on Saturday.
Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week - Carter Tobin, Penn State Behrend
Tobin won the 60m dash, breaking the school record and the Kerr-Pegula Field House record with a time of 6.85 at the Houghton December Classic on Friday. His time was an AARTFC qualifying mark. Tobin also placed third in the 200m dash with an AARTFC time of 22.22.
Men's Indoor Field Athlete of the Week - Isaiah Brunache, Cortland
Brunache finished first out of 58 competitors in the weight throw and was second of 60 in the shot put at the Utica Holiday Classic. His weight throw of 18.05 meters (59' 2.75") ranks sixth nationally in Division III and his shot put of 16.20 meters (53' 1.75") ranks fifth nationally as of Sunday evening.
Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week - Melissa Innocent, Cortland
Innocent finished first out of 23 runners in the 3,000 meters at the Cornell Greg Page Relays. Her winning time of 10:10.40 is an AARTFC qualifier and is ranked 15th nationally in Division III as of Sunday night.
Women's Indoor Field Athlete of the Week - Hannah McMasters, Cortland
McMasters finished first out of 47 competitors in the weight throw at the Utica Holiday Classic. Her winning distance of 15.46 meters (50' 8.75") is an AARTFC qualifier and ranks 16th nationally in Division III as of Sunday night. McMasters also finished 10th of 51 in the shot put (10.44 meters/34' 3").
Men's Wrestler of the Week - Josh Harkless, RIT
Harkless won the 285 lb. division at the 59th RIT Invitational, Saturday. Harkless, ranked third in Div. III, pinned Jake LeSage (Oneonta) 41 seconds into his opening match. He pinned Lukas Charles (Utica) 42 seconds into his second match and pinned Connor Reynolds (Williams) 52 seconds into his quarterfinal match. Harkless pinned Kenny Jackson 52 seconds into his semifinal bout and pinned Thomas Lunt (John Caroll) 39 seconds in the championship match.
Men's Wrestling Rookie of the Week - Jackson Rush, RIT
Rush placed first in the 133 lb. division at the 59th RIT Invitational, Saturday. Rush pinned Xander Burke (St. John Fisher) 1:30 into his opening bout at 133 lb. He pinned Ricky Holmes (John Carroll) at 2:46 of his second match and pinned Ariel Waldman (Oneonta) at 3:59 of his quarterfinal match. Rush took down Matthew Carrozza (Trinity) with a 15-2 major decision in the semifinals and defeated Derek Bernardino (St. John Fisher) in the championship match.
