Athletic and Academic Success Recognized at the Annual RSC Athletic Awards Ceremony

May 5, 2026

Athletic and Academic Success Recognized at the Annual RSC Athletic Awards Ceremony

ALBANY, N.Y. – Russell Sage College Athletics celebrated its numerous 2025-2026 successes at its annual Athletic Awards Ceremony on Monday, May 4 in the Armory.

In addition to several honors bestowed for athletic and academic excellence, the 22 winners of the Gator of the Year Award, one for each our 22 varsity sports, were unveiled. In addition, the department also announced the 2025-2026 Female and Male Rookies of the Year as well as the 2025-2026 Female and Male Athletes of the Year.

RSC handed out the Dean Sharon Robinson Senior Male and Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year, which is given to the senior student-athlete with the highest overall grade point average. The department presented the Aggie Stillman Perseverance Award and the Rosaire Murphy Service Award, as well as bestowed recognition to our Fan of the Year at the gathering.

Baseball pitcher/outfielder Evan Grimes (Clifton Park, N.Y.) was tabbed the Male Athlete of the Year, while Women's Basketball guard Layla Acosta (Haines City, Fla.) was named Female Athlete of the Year.

Honored as Male Rookie of the Year was Cross Country and Track and Field standout Christopher Whalen (Arlington, Vt.). The Female Rookie of the Year honors were presented to Field Hockey and track and field freshman Catherine Newkirk (Marathon, N.Y.)

The 2025-2026 Dean Sharon Robinson Scholar-Athlete Awards were presented to softball right-handed pitcher Bailey Catlin (Petersburg, N.Y.) and men's basketball forward Ben Aprilante (Fort Montgomery, N.Y.). Catlin majors in Childhood Education/Early Childhood Education/Special Education, while Aprilante is a sport and recreation management major.

The Rosaire Murphy Service Award was awarded to Avery Tam (Burke, N.Y.) for her efforts to assist the Office of Athletic Communications with photography.

Junior Mercedez Cecelia-Storey (Pine Hill, N.Y.), a member of the RSC field hockey and track and field teams, received the Aggie Stillman Perseverance Award, while the Fan of the Year was bestowed to senior Aniyah Kelley (New Castle, Del.)

Gators of the Year

Baseball: Anthony Rizzo, Senior, Infielder (Latham, N.Y.)

Men's Basketball: Brandon Harris, Senior, Guard (Elmsford, N.Y.)

Women's Basketball: Madison Huneau, Senior, Guard (Cohoes, N.Y.)

Men's Cross Country: Christopher Pelligrini, Senior (Loudonville, N.Y.)

Women's Cross Country: Aniya-Jade Bailey, Freshman (Troy, N.Y.)

Esports: Thyon Nelson, Senior (Brooklyn, N.Y.)

Field Hockey: Cheyenne Zobel, Junior, Midfielder (Clifton Park, N.Y.)

Women's Flag Football: Hailey Blake, Sophomore (Schenectady, N.Y.)

Men's Golf: Ryan Arp, Junior (Greenville, N.Y.)

Women's Golf: Grace Kinkaid, Senior, (Ballston Lake, N.Y.)

Men's Lacrosse: Jordon Hankel, Sophomore, Goalkeeper (Cold Spring, N.Y.)

Women's Lacrosse: Keegan Long, Sophomore, Goalkeeper/Attacker (Gansevoort, N.Y.)

Men's Soccer: Jason Victor, Sophomore, Defender (Utica, N.Y.)

Women's Soccer: Gianna Viscusi, Senior, Forwar (Duanesburg, N.Y.)

Softball: Ciana Santana, Senior, Infielder (East Meadow, N.Y.)

Women's Tennis: Katie Snell, Junior (Valley Falls, N.Y.)

Men's Indoor Track and Field: Dylan Lawless, Senior, Multi (Slingerlands, N.Y.)

Women's Indoor Track and Field: Mercedez Cecelia-Storey, Junior, Thrower (Pine Hill, N.Y.)

Men's Outdoor Track and Field: Christopher Whalen, Freshman, Distance (Arlington, Vt.)

Women's Outdoor Track and Field: Presley Gosselin, Freshman, Sprints/Jumps (Whitehall, N.Y.)

Men's Volleyball: Marcus Gentile, Senior (Delmar, N.Y.)

Women's Volleyball: Madeline Mott, Junior (Fultonville, N.Y.)

Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year

Evan Grimes, Senior Pitcher/Outfielder, Baseball (Clifton Park, N.Y.)

Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year

Layla Acosta, Senior Guard, Women's Basketball (Haines City, Fla.)

Male Rookie of the Year

Christopher Whalen, Freshman, Cross Country and Track and Field (Arlington, Vt.)

Female Rookie of the Year

Catherine Newkirk, Freshman, Field Hockey and Track and Field (Marathon, N.Y.)

Dean Sharon Robinson Male Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Ben Aprilante, Men's Basketball (Fort Montgomery, N.Y.)

Dean Sharon Robinson Female Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Bailey Catlin, Softball (Petersburg, N.Y.)

Rosaire Murphy Service Award

Avery Tam, Graduate Assistant, Athletics (Burke, N.Y.)

Fan of the Year

Aniyah Kelley, Senior, Women's Volleyball, Women's Basketball, and Women's Flag Football (New Castle, Del.)

Aggie Stillman Perseverance Award

Mercedez Cecelia-Storey, Junior, Field Hockey and Track and Field (Pine Hill, N.Y.)

Athletic Honor Society

Russell Sage College's Intercollegiate Athletic Honor Society recognizes junior, senior, or graduate level student-athletes, who have maintained a cumulative grade-point-average of 3.3 or better and have participated as a member of a varsity team for at least two seasons. A total of 64 individuals were named to the Honor Society for their success in 2025-26, including 17 repeat honorees.

Cameron Aery

Madison Albanese *

Ben Aprilante

Ryan Arp

Olivia Badalucco

Jaclyn Benedetti

Kylie Behan

Olivia Brand

Collin Casey

Bailey Catlin

Alexis Crossman

Emily Cumo *