General

America East Announces Man and Woman of the Year Finalists

BOSTON - The America East has revealed its finalists for the 2025-26 Man and Woman of the Year awards. The three men and three women represent four different schools and five different sports with four of the student-athletes winning at least one team conference championship.
 
The Man and Woman of the Year will be unveiled on Tuesday, June 2 at the conference’s year-end awards banquet. The America East began honoring a Woman of the Year in 2006 and introduced the Man of the Year award in 2014. recognizes the conference's senior or graduate student male and female student-athletes who have best distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletic excellence, service and leadership. All-Time America East Man & Woman of the Year Award Listing.
 
Woman of the Year Finalists
Sydney Leitner, Binghamton – XC/Track & Field
  • Four-time first-team all-conference honoree in cross country and led Binghamton to 2023 #AEXC Championship.
  • Recorded eight top-five finishes during her career in the #AETF Indoor & Outdoor Championships.
  • Graduated with a 3.64 as a nursing major.
  • Served as a sports medicine intern in the Binghamton Sports Medicine Center from Aug. 2023 – May 2026 and was a Co-President of Binghamton SAAC.
 
Nicole Poulakis, New Hampshire – Field Hockey
  • 2025 NFCHA Second-Team All-American and three-time First-Team All-Conference performer.
  • Named 2025 #AEFH Offensive Player of the Year while leading UNH to #AEFH Championship and ranking top-five in the nation in points per game (2.84) and goals per game (1.21)
  • Graduated with 3.90 GPA with a degree in Sport Management and Leadership.
  • Served as a coach of the Dolphins Field Hockey Club over the past four years and was a two-year captain of the field hockey program.
 
Shynelle Woroniuk, UAlbany
  • Two-time First-Team All-Conference selection and helped UAlbany reach #AEVB Championship game in 2024 and 2025, earning All-Championship team honors both years.
  • Ranked second in the conference in both points per set (4.37) as well as kills per set (3.91), and finished her career with 1,075 kills.
  • Graduated with a 3.88 in Business Administration and earned a 4.0 while completing her MBA.
  • Four-year captain of the UAlbany volleyball program and spent five years serving as the SAAC representative for volleyball at UAlbany.
 
Man of the Year Finalists
Zac Kusak, NJIT – Swimming & Diving
  • Four-year member of the NJIT swim & dive program and earned four top-three finishes in relay events at the #AESD Championships.
  • Recorded a pair of top-10 finishes in the 200 yard free in the #AESD Championships and helped NJIT finish fourth three times in his career.
  • Graduated with a 4.0 as a Financial Technology major.
  • Three-year SAAC representative at NJIT and assisted in Read Across America program at local elementary school each of the past two years.
 
Max Neeson, UAlbany - Lacrosse
  • Two-time USILA Honorable Mention All-American and two-time #AEMLAX Defensive Player of the Year
  • Anchored UAlbany defense to three straight #AEMLAX Championships and ranks second in league history with 91 caused turnovers.
  • Graduated with a 3.48 GPA as a Human Development major
  • Senior captain and served as UAlbany SAAC representative for men’s lacrosse.
 
Liam Preston, Binghamton - Swimming & Diving
  • Four-year member of Binghamton swim & dive program and recorded nine top-five individual finishes at the #AESD Championships.
  • Helped Binghamton to two conference titles and won four gold medals in relay events in his career while claiming 2026 #AESD Championship Coaches Award.
  • Maintained a 4.0 GPA while receiving a BS in Business Administration and a BA in Math: Actuarial Sciences.
  • Served as Binghamton PwC Scholars Mentor for the past two years and two-year captain.
 
ABOUT AMERICA EAST
Founded in 1979, the America East Conference is an elite NCAA Division I athletic conference that fosters an environment for student-athletes to become champions. Comprised of academically renowned, like-minded member institutions located in the Northeast region of the United States, America East is committed to broad-based excellence and progressive in its approach to supporting its more than 3,500 student-athletes across 18 sponsored sports. For more information, visit www.AmericaEast.com and follow the America East Conference and its social media channels, @AmericaEast.
 
- America East Conference – Where Champions Rise -