CORTLAND, N.Y. - The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) is proud to announce its 2018-19 Winter Scholar Athlete of the Year honorees. During each season, the conference recognizes student-athletes for their efforts in their sport, as well as their academics. Out of hundreds of winter athletes, one athlete from each sport was selected for this distinction.
In order to be eligible for the SUNYAC Scholar Athlete of the Year award student-athletes must prove both academic and athletic excellence by obtaining a minimum 3.30 overall GPA, be a starter or significant reserve for their team, and be at least a sophomore. The SUNYAC Scholar Athlete Award originated in 2016-17.
Duggie Lagrone - Men's Ice Hockey, Geneseo
Lagrone tallied seven goals and 20 assists on the season for Geneseo helping them to their second straight SUNYAC title and a Frozen Four appearance. The economics major has a 3.65 GPA and was a big reason the Knights had a program record 25-2-2 season. He was a First Team All-American and First Team All-SUNYAC who was tied for seventh among DIII defenseman with 0.96 points per game and finished ninth among all SUNYAC skaters with 27 points.
Liam Sanborn - Men's Basketball, Oswego
The Staten Island native owns a 3.97 GPA as a finance major. The sophomore had a breakout campaign in 2018-19, guiding Oswego to conference regular-season and tournament titles, along with an NCAA Championship Sweet 16 appearance. For his efforts, Sanborn was named All-Region by both the NABC and D3hoops.com, while garnering first team honors from the SUNYAC. He was also named Academic All-District 3 by CoSIDA for his court and classroom performance. One of the most effective point guards in the country, Sanborn finished 10th nationally in total assists with 166 and 24th in assists per game with 5.5, leading the SUNYAC in both categories. He was also a workhorse, closing the season with the fourth-most minutes played in the country.
Madeline Frank - Women's Basketball, Oneonta
The senior from Syracuse is a 3.93 student majoring in biology. Frank was SUNYAC All-Conference Third Team and became Oneonta's all-time leading rebounder with 776. She recorded five double-doubles during the season to lead the Red Dragons into the conference playoffs. Frank was honored with CoSIDA Academic All-District 3 First Team and she's a member of Chi Alpha Sigma National Student Athlete Honor Society, a member of campus EMS and will receive a SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence in April (one of four students from Oneonta).
Clark Davis - Men's Swimming and Diving, Geneseo
The SUNYAC Swimmer of the Year posted a 3.54 GPA in Biochemistry. He was First Team All-Conference and placed first in 200 individual medley, 400 individual medley and 200 breaststroke at SUNYAC Championships. Davis and the Knights took home the SUNYAC title for the sixth year in a row. Davis was a huge reason the Knights had such success this season and capped it off with SUNYAC Swimmer of the Meet.
Nancy Nasky - Women's Swimming and Diving, Geneseo
Nasky and the Knights showed complete dominance this winter winning their 12th straight SUNYAC title. The All-American with a 3.48 GPA in accounting finished All-America seventh in the 1650 free, setting a SUNYAC record (17:00.10) at the NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving Championships. She was an honorable Mention All-American 16th in 500 freestyle (5:05.14) at NCAA Division III Swimming & Diving Championships and finished first in the 1650 freestyle, 500 freestyle and 800 freestyle relay at SUNYAC Championships earning her First-Team All-Conference.
Sean McAneny - Men's Indoor Track and Field, Geneseo
McAneny, who earned SUNYAC Winter Scholar Athlete of the Year, is an English major with a 3.93 GPA. The All-American earned SUNYAC Men's Indoor Track & Field Track Athlete of the Year with another stellar season. The junior finished an All-American fifth in the 3,000 (8:17.12) at the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships, breaking the SUNYAC record in the process. He swept first-place in the 3,000 at the Atlantic Region Championships as well as at the SUNYAC Championships leading his team too another SUNYAC title.
Elise Ramirez - Women's Indoor Track and Field, Geneseo
The All-American with a 3.67 GPA in biology finished an All-American seventh in the 5,000 (16:51.07) at the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships. Ramirez won the 3,000 at the SUNYAC Indoor Championships with meet and facility records running a 9:53.15 and also finished runner-up in the 5,000 (18:37.74) to help lead the Knights to their third-consecutive SUNYAC championship. In the fall she took home the 2018 SUNYAC Women's Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year.