TROY, N.Y. – Five Union College student-athletes across four sports were recognized with weekly honors from the Liberty League and three more earned honor roll spots for the week ending January 11, the conference office announced on Monday afternoon.
Men's Basketball Performer of the Week: Jack Plesser
Plesser earns his fourth weekly honor of the season after averaging 27.5 points per game on 58.1 percent shooting in leading Union to wins over both of last year's Liberty League Tournament finalists and keeping the Garnet Chargers atop the conference standings. The junior scored 15 of his game-high 25 points in the first half as Union jumped out to an early lead in a 76-59 win over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Friday. He then went for 30 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field and a 10-of-13 effort from the line to go with seven boards and four blocks in Saturday's 81-73 win over reigning conference champion Ithaca College.
Women's Basketball Performer of the Week: Olivia Cunningham
Cunningham is recognized for the second time this year after nearly averaging a double-double with 14.5 points on 65.0 percent shooting and 9.5 rebounds per game as the Garnet Chargers remained atop the Liberty League standings with two wins. The sophomore hit 8-of-11 shots from the field for 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to go with four assists and three steals in Friday's 74-61 win over Rensselaer, and then added 13 points and eight caroms in a 58-51 win over Ithaca on Saturday.
Women's Swimming & Diving Swimmer of the Week: Chloe Matthews
Matthews picks up her second straight weekly honor after propelling Union to a 170-124 victory over Springfield College, marking the program's first win over the Pride since Jan. 6, 2007, during the Garnet Chargers' tri-meet at Hartwick College on Saturday. Matthews won the 200 freestyle (2:03.42) and led off the winning 400 freestyle relay that finished in 3:52.28. While making her debut in the 500 freestyle, she placed second with a time of 5:37.28. She posted the fastest time by a Garnet Charger this season in the 500 free, and she also swam the butterfly leg of the second-place 200 medley relay (1:58.42).
Women's Swimming & Diving Rookie of the Week: Maggie Reale
Reale helped lead Union to a 170-124 victory over Springfield on Saturday by winning the 100 freestyle (57.22) and swimming the second leg of the winning 400 freestyle relay that finished in 3:52.28. She also placed second in the 50 freestyle (26.46) and anchored the second-place 200 medley relay that finished in 1:58.42.
Men's Indoor Track & Field Field Performer of the Week: Mason Lang
Lang provided the best result of the day for Union at Saturday's Middlebury College Snowflake Invitational, tossing the shot put 13.94 meters to finish atop the 30-person field by over four feet. The senior also earned a top-five finish in the weight throw, posting a top mark of 13.53 meters.
Honor Roll Mentions:
Men's Swimming & Diving: Troy Luley
Luley posted a win and three additional podium finishes across Union's tri-meet at Hartwick. Luley championed the 200 breaststroke (2:09.35) and placed second in the 200 individual medley (2:05.49). He also swam the breaststroke leg of the second-place 200 medley relay that finished in 1:41.25, recording a 27.36 split that was the fastest breaststroke leg in the event and the only one under 28.00. Luley added a third-place finish in the 1,000 freestyle (10:17.96), the fastest time by a Garnet Charger this season and the 13th-fastest mark in the Liberty League. It was the first time Luley competed in the 1,000 free this season.
Men's Swimming & Diving: Tripp Kennedy
Kennedy recorded two victories and a pair of third-place finishes in Union's tri-meet at Hartwick. Kennedy won the 200 backstroke with a season-best time of 2:04.10, the fastest by a Garnet Charger this season, and also captured the 200 freestyle (1:46.30). He added a third-place finish in the 50 freestyle (22.98) and led off Union's third-place 400 freestyle relay that finished in 3:19.74.
Women's Indoor Track & Field: Kyleigh Record
Record earned a win in the 800 meters at Saturday's Middlebury Snowflake Invitational, leading a trio of top-five finishes for Union in the event. The sophomore qualified for the Liberty League Championships with a top time of 2:27.18, winning the 15-runner race by more than 4.5 seconds.
