SUNYAC Athletes of the Week - February 9, 2026
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The SUNYAC selects its winter Athletes of the Week honoring 16 student-athletes from seven member institutions for their showing during the week of February 2-8.
Men's Basketball Athlete of the Week - Reem Welch, Plattsburgh
Welch was a standout for Plattsburgh State this week, delivering a series of dominant performances in SUNYAC action. He opened the week with a strong showing, tying his career-high with 36 points while adding seven rebounds, an assist, and a steal. Welch then produced a historic performance against Morrisville, leading a decisive 5-0 surge and finishing it with the game-winning layup to secure a 100-98 victory. In that contest, he recorded a career-high 49 points, setting a new single-game program scoring record, while also contributing seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals. His clutch scoring and all-around play were instrumental in Plattsburgh's success throughout the week. Welch put together a dominant two-game stretch, averaging 42.5 points per game on 54.0% shooting from the floor, 40.0% from beyond the arc, and 93.1% at the line, while adding 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per contest.
Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week - Brianna Fitzgerald, New Paltz
Fitzgerald averaged a double-double in the Hawks' three-game slate to lead her team to their 11th straight win. She opened the week with a 16-point, 13-rebound performance in a 61-50 win over Oswego, shooting 60 percent from the floor, while adding two assists and five steals in 27 minutes. She only needed to play 25 minutes in a 83-59 win over Buffalo State Friday night and flirted with a triple double, finishing with 14 points, six rebounds, a game-high eight assists, a block and five steals while shooting 70 percent from the field. She then carried the Hawks to a hard-fought 57-53 win over Fredonia Saturday, scoring a game-high 22 points on 7-for-18 shooting with a team-high 11 rebounds and added six assists, five blocks and five steals, while also hitting the go-ahead shot to push her team ahead, and got the game winning stop with a block in the final seconds that forced the Blue Devils to intentionally foul to slow the game down. Fitzgerald iced the game on the foul line, hitting both attempts to cement the four-point win.
Men's Ice Hockey Athlete of the Week - Quinn Tavares, Plattsburgh
Sophomore forward Tavares played a pivotal role in leading the Plattsburgh State men's ice hockey team to a perfect 2–0 weekend, delivering clutch performances in both contests. He opened the week by recording the game-winning assist in the Cardinals' victory over Buffalo State, helping secure an important conference win. Tavares followed that effort with a standout performance against Fredonia, where he tallied an assist before scoring the dramatic game-winning goal in overtime with seconds remaining.
Men's Ice Hockey Goaltender of the Week - Beau Lane, Plattsburgh
First-year goaltender Lane was a key factor in leading the Plattsburgh State men's ice hockey team to a perfect 2–0 weekend, anchoring the Cardinals with composed and confident play between the pipes. Lane opened the weekend with an outstanding 32-save shutout in Plattsburgh's victory over Buffalo State, turning aside every shot he faced to secure the win. He followed that performance with another strong outing against Fredonia, earning the victory after stopping 28 shots. Across the two games, Lane totaled 60 saves.
Men's Ice Hockey Rookie of the Week - JC Humphreys, Cortland
Humphreys played a huge role in a 2-0 weekend for the Red Dragons, scoring two points on one goal and one assist, including tallying one game-winning goal, and also winning 16-of-28 faceoffs (57.1%). In a 2-1 road win at Canton on Friday evening, the freshman scored the game-winning goal with under nine minutes remaining in the third period. He followed it up by providing the primary assist on the game-winning goal in a 3-2 road win at Potsdam on Saturday, while also winning 9-of-14 faceoffs (64.3%) in the contest.
Women's Ice Hockey Athlete of the Week - Bailey Mackellar, Plattsburgh
First-year forward Bailey MacKellar was instrumental in leading the Plattsburgh State women's ice hockey team to a perfect 3–0 week, highlighted by a statement upset over No. 4 Middlebury. MacKellar delivered a clutch two-goal performance against the nationally ranked Panthers, scoring both the game-tying goal and the overtime game-winner to secure the Cardinals' signature victory. She continued her standout play in a 2–1 win over William Smith, once again rising to the moment by netting the game-tying goal before assisting on the eventual game-winner. Across the week, MacKellar totaled 3 goals and 1 assist.
Women's Ice Hockey Goaltender of the Week - Molly Lenihan, Canton
Lenihan combined to stop 74 of the 76 shots she faced (.974 save %) in an unbeaten weekend in a home-and-home series with Oswego. The junior recorded a 44 save shutout, her second of the season and sixth of her career, in a 1-0 road win at Oswego on Friday. She stopped at least 14 shots in every period including 16 in the third period of the win. On Saturday Lenihan turned aside 30 of the 32 shots she faced (.938 save %) in a 2-2 OT tie against the Lakers.
Women's Ice Hockey Rookie of the Week - Eline Gillodes, Cortland
Gillodes had a stellar weekend in goal for the Red Dragons, stopping 55-of-57 shots for a .965 save percentage and a 0.96 goals-against average in two games. Gillodes' top performance of the week came in a 1-1 tie against Canton on Friday, making 34 saves for a .971 save percentage, including multiple strong saves in the overtime period. She also stopped all three attempts in the exhibition shootout. In a 3-1 home victory over Oswego on Saturday, the freshman continued her excellent week by stopping 21-of-22 shots to earn the victory in goal.
Men's Swimmer of the Week - Jack Samko, New Paltz
Samko was the third leg of the 200-yard medley relay that earned third with a time of 1:43.35 at Union on Friday night. Samko earned first in the men's 50-freestyle with a time of 22.32 and second in the 100 fly with a 55.24. He rounded out the meet with a first place finish, as the third leg of the mens 200-yard freestyle relay finishing with a time of 1:38.92.
Women's Swimmer of the Week - Alexis Egbert, New Paltz
Egbert was the third leg of the 200-yard medley relay team that touched fourth with a time of 2:02.96 Friday night against Union. Egbert (1:00.19) took third in the women's 100-yard freestyle and second in the 100 fly with a time of 1:05.44. Egbert was the third leg again, in the first place 200-yard freestyle relay team touching with a time of 1:53.48.
Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week - Talon Rowland, Fredonia
Rowland ran a 49.08 in the 400m which places him second in Fredonia State history, just 1/100th of a second off the school record. He also solidified his SUNYAC-leading mark in the event while ranking 40th in the country.
Men's Indoor Field Athlete of the Week - Isaiah Brunache, Cortland
Brunache finished first of 49 in the weight throw at 18.75 meters (61' 6.25") and first of 48 in the shot put at 16.08 meters (52' 9.25") at the Utica Blue and Orange Invitational. His weight throw currently ranks 11th nationally in Division III.
Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week - Melissa Innocent, Cortland
Innocent finished second of 33 in the mile run (4:59.66) and second of 37 in the 800 meters (2:21.37) at the Big Apple Invitational. Both performances are AARTFC qualifiers, and her time in the mile is first in the SUNYAC and 37th nationally in Division III.
Women's Indoor Field Athelte of the Week - Yauvani Liddelow, Fredonia
Liddelow triple jumped 11.36 meters which gives her the lead in the SUNYAC rankings. She is also in the top 30 nationally.
Men's Wrestler of the Week - Isaias Torres, Ithaca College
During a 3-0 weekend where the Bombers defeated No. 22 Williams, SUNY Oneonta and Wesleyan University, Isaias Torres would also go 3-0. No. 10 NWCA nationally ranked Isaias Torres had a dominant weekend defeating Tyler Stubbs (Williams College) in a 17-2 tech fall. He would score his second win of the day taking down Avery Leonard in a 13-4 major decision. The senior then capped it by defeating No. 5 ranked Hayden Myers in a bout that went to overtime, prevailing 4-1.
Men's Wrestling Rookie of the Week - Daniel Visha, St. John Fisher
St. John Fisher freshman Visha battled his way to a fifth-place finish in the John Summa Invite on Saturday at Baldwin Wallace University. Visha claimed three of his first four matches, including one by fall in 59 seconds over Thiel's Aidan Carter, to reach the fourth-place match.
