E8 Athletes of the Week: January 12
Below are the athletes earning weekly honors for the week of January 6-12.
Men’s Swimming & Diving Athlete – Hartwick
Miles Blaney, Senior – New York, NY/NYC Lab School
Miles Blaney placed first in all six individual races he took part in this weekend in a pair of meets. In a win against SUNY Cortland, Blaney took first in the 200 free (1:44.48), the 100 free (47.65), and the 100 fly (54.26). He also anchored the Hawks’ first-place 400 free relay team with a relay split of 47.45. On Sunday in victories over Springfield and Union, Blaney was the winner of the 200 free (1:46.56), 100 free (47.70), and the 100 fly (53.06). He then anchored the Hawks’ first-place 400 free relay team with a relay split of 47.47.
Women’s Swimming & Diving Athlete – Hartwick
Imma Rutigliano, Junior – Tillson, NY/John C. Coleman
Imma Rutigliano placed first in all six individual races she took part in this weekend in a pair of meets. Against Cortland on Saturday, she was first in the 200 free (2:00.84 and first in the 100 free (55.63). She also anchored the Hawks’ first-place 400 free relay team with a relay split of 55.97 right after she won the 200 individual medley race (2:15.67). On Sunday against Springfield and Union, Rutigliano led the Hartwick women, earning the top spot in the same events. She won the 200 free (1:58.76), the 100 free (55.07), and 200 IM (2:13.57) and anchored the second-place 400 free relay with a relay split of 55.48.
Men’s Basketball Player – Alfred
Dalton Walsh, Senior, Forward – Stockton, NY/Cassadaga Valley
Senior forward Dalton Walsh helped the Saxons to a 2-1 week by averaging 19.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in three Empire 8 games. He shot 68 percent from the floor (21-of-31) and 64 percent from the free throw line (14-of-22) in the three games. His game-highs for the week included 24 points in a loss to Utica and 11 rebounds in a win over Elmira.
Men’s Basketball Rookie – Utica
Ivan Iton, Freshman, Forward – Ossining, NY/Ossining
Ivan Iton averaged 10 points and 4.0 rebounds as the Pioneers went 1-2 over this past week. Iton shot 11-of-15 from the floor while hitting an impressive 8-of-10 free throws. On Saturday, he led Utica to its first win in the conference with 13 points, shooting 5-for-6 from the floor, with five boards.
Women’s Basketball Player – Stevens
Kaitlyn Astel, Junior, Guard – Staten Island, NY/Staten Island Tech
Kaitlyn Astel averaged 21 points and seven rebounds in a 3-0 week for the Ducks, who have won 10 straight after dropping their season opener. In a 55-52 win over Utica last Tuesday, she scored 18 points and went 4-for-4 from the line in the closing minute to help seal the win. In Friday's 70-61 win at St. John Fisher, Astel combined career-highs in points (22) and rebounds (13). Then in a 69-52 win over Nazareth on Saturday, Astel upped her career high to 23 points while adding five rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Women’s Basketball Rookie – Elmira
Danielle Cleary, Freshman, Guard – Rochester, NY/Our Lady of Mercy
Freshman Danielle Cleary continued to perform at a high level on both ends of the floor for the Soaring Eagles, scoring in double-digits in each of Elmira's three games. She averaged 15.0 points per game while also chipping in 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per contest. She scored 17 points in Tuesday's win over Alfred, added 13 in a Friday night loss to Utica before closing out the week with 15 points in Saturday's win over Houghton. Against Houghton, she added two blocks and four steals.