SUNYAC Athletes of the Week - February 16, 2026
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The SUNYAC picks its winter Athletes of the Week recognizing 14 student-athletes from eight member institutions for their outstanding performances during the week of February 9-15.
Men's Basketball Athlete of the Week - Aaron Coston, Cortland
Coston posted scoring career highs on back-to-back days as Cortland won a pair of road games to clinch the SUNYAC regular-season title for the first time since 2013. In an 86-63 win at Canton on Friday, Coston made 11-of-14 field goals, including all three of his 3-pointers, and finished with 29 points and six rebounds. The following day at second-place Oswego, Coston scored 32 points and pulled down 14 rebounds, one shy of his career best, in a 65-58 win over the Lakers. He shot 13-of-15 from the field, including 6-for-6 in the second half, and made all five of his free throws. For the two games, Coston shot a combined 24-of-29 (83 percent) overall and 4-for-5 from 3-point range and averaged 30.5 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week - Grace Alexander, Fredonia
The Fredonia women's basketball team won both games this weekend thanks to the inspired play of Grace Alexander. The junior averaged 19 points, 5 assists and 4.5 rebounds. She shot 50 percent (13-26) from the field, which included 7-12 (58 percent) from three-point range. In a 74-42 win over Potsdam, she scored 23 with 5 assists and 4 rebounds. In a 65-45 win over Plattsburgh, she scored 15 and had 5 assists and 5 rebounds.
Men's Ice Hockey Athlete of the Week - Conor Lally, Hobart
Lally led the Statesmen with four points on two goals and two assists in a 2-0-0 weekend in SUNYAC play. On Friday night at Morrisville, Lally had three points, egistering a goal and two assists. His goal came while the Statesmen were killing off a 5 minute major in the second period. At Cortland, Lally scored in the second period. Through 23 games this season, Lally has 31 points on 12 goals and 19 assists. He is 23rd in the nation in points per game (1.35), first among defensemen, and is 23rd in assists per game ( 0.83). , 24)
Men's Ice Hockey Goaltender of the Week - Tommy Aitken, Skidmore
Aitken was sensational in leading Skidmore to a 3-2 win on the road at Plattsburgh on Friday night. The junior stopped 45-of-47 shots for a .957 save percentage while facing heavy Cardinal pressure. He helped Skidmore kill a pair of Plattsburgh power plays to post his fourth win in a row.
Men's Ice Hockey Rookie of the Week - Lucas Signoretti, Buffalo St.
Signoretti dominated in Buffalo State's 6-2 victory over the Potsdam Bears on Saturday scoring four goals and picking up an assist. Signoretti netted his first hat trick as a Bengal which featured the game-winning goal, and two power play goals. On the year, Signoretti sits in the top five in the SUNYAC in goals and points.
Women's Ice Hockey Athlete of the Week - Carlen Bertrand, Cortland
Bertrand played an instrumental role on both the offensive and defensive ends in a 2-0-1 week for the Red Dragons, scoring five points on two goals and three assists, registering an on-ice rating of (+5), and helping lead the Cortland defense that posted a 0.96 goals-against average for the week. In a 2-1 overtime victory over William Smith on Saturday, Bertrand scored the game-tying goal in the second period, and provided the primary assist on the game-winning goal, while blocking two shots and posting an on-ice rating of (+2). She also provided a goal and an assist in a 10-1 victory over Buffalo State on Friday afternoon, and tallied the primary assist on Cortland's goal and had one blocked shot in a 1-1 tie against Hamilton on Tuesday evening.
Women's Ice Hockey Goaltender of the Week - Mia DeVivo, Oswego
In a weekend where the Lakers needed a big performance, DeVivo stepped up and gave them just that. Mia took on Plattsburgh and Potsdam on back-to-back days and turned away all 50 shots she faced. The Lakers earned a 2-0 win and a tie over natiaonally ranked Plattsburgh to secure their spot in the playoffs.
Women's Ice Hockey Rookie of the Week - Eline Gillodes, Cortland
Gillodes posted a .957 save percentage and a 0.96 goals-against average in a 2-0-1 week for the Red Dragons. The freshman netminder made 31 saves in a 1-1 tie against Hamilton on Tuesday, and followed it up with a 20-save performance in a 10-1 win over Buffalo State on Friday evening. Gillodes finished the week with 15 saves on 16 shots in a 2-1 overtime victory over William Smith on Saturday, including making a tremendous glove save in the final seconds of regulation to send the game into overtime.
Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week - Charles Cypress, Plattsburgh
Cypress delivered a record-breaking performance in the 200-meter dash at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational. The senior sprinter posted a time of 21.78 seconds, trimming 0.25 seconds off his own indoor program record and earning an AARTFC qualifying mark with a 16th-place finish in a 36-athlete field. Cypress also turned in a strong performance in the 400-meter dash, posting a first-place finish with a time of 50.24 seconds, narrowly missing an AARTFC qualifying mark as Plattsburgh State competed at the Tufts Cupid Challenge.
Men's Indoor Field Athlete of the Week - Evan Collette, Cortland
Collette finished first out of 41 competitors in the weight throw and third of 42 in the shot put at the Utica University Fast Trax Invitational. His personal-best weight throw of 18.29 meters (60' 0.25") ranks 18th nationally in Division III and second in the SUNYAC, and his shot put of 15.17 meters (49' 9.25") ranks fourth in the SUNYAC. Both performances are also AARTFC qualifiers.
Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week - Melissa Innocent, Cortland
Innocent finished in 117th place out of 207 runners in the open division of the 3,000-meter run at the Boston University Valentine Invitational. Her time of 9:48.30 ranks 30th nationally in Division III and first in the SUNYAC, and is an AARTFC qualifier. Innocent now is ranked third on Cortland's all-time performers list in the event. * Melissa Innocent, 117th (207), OPEN 3000m, 9:48.30 (30th NCAA)
Women's Indoor Field Athelte of the Week - Jennifer Ndukwu, Cortland
Ndukwu finished first of 43 in the weight throw and fourth of 42 in the shot put at the Utica University Fast Trax Invitational. Her personal-best weight throw of 16.74 meters (54' 11.25") is 22nd nationally in Division III and first in the SUNYAC, and it places her second on Cortland's career performers chart in that event. Her shot put of 12.42 meters (40' 9") currently ranks third in the SUNYAC. Both performances are also AARTFC qualifiers.
Men's Wrestler of the Week - Culley Bellino, Cortland
Bellino earned a victory by pin at 141 pounds in just 1:38 during meet a dual against Ithaca on Wednesday evening, while also matching the Cortland single-season record for falls in the process with his 24th fall (combined pins and technical falls) of the season.
Men's Wrestling Rookie of the Week - Marco Rivera, RIT
Rivera placed third in the 149 lb. Navy Division at the JCU Open, Saturday. He beat Colin McQuone (Gannon) with 22-7 tech. fall in his opening match. After a loss in the quarterfinals, Rivera pinned Jeremiah Sawicky (Gannon) 1:12 into his consolation match. He pinned Andy Sanchez (Baldwin Wallace) before a 18-9 major decision over Noah Creque (Baldwin Wallace) in the consolation semi. Rivera beat Liam Hein (Point Park University), 8-6 in the third-place match.
