Oneonta Red Dragon Sports

In honor of NCAA Division III week, which runs April 6-12, 2025, SUNY Oneonta has announced the induction of 39 student-athletes into its chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma. Chi Alpha Sigma is a nonprofit organization that recognizes college student-athletes who excel on and off the field of competition. Student-athletes who participate in a sport at the varsity intercollegiate level, achieve junior academic standing or higher after their fifth full-time semester, earn a 3.5 or higher cumulative grade point average, contribute to their team athletically, and act as good citizens are eligible to be nominated by their coaches for Chi Alpha Sigma membership. This year's class marks the 29th group inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma. SUNY Oneonta Vice President for University Advancement Paul Adamo was selected as the Chi Alpha Sigma honorary inductee.

Four Oneonta men's basketball team members earned College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Honors. The award recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their performances on the court and in the classroom. Sophomores Nate Cohen and Cam LaClair and juniors Nicholas Cortez and Hobson Herlihy were the Oneonta recipients for 2025-26. To be nominated, a student-athlete must play regularly for the team and carry at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale). Athletes who are nominated must also have participated in at least 90 percent or started at least two-thirds of the team's games.

Two members from the Oneonta women's basketball team earned College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Honors. The award recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their performances on the court and in the classroom. Juniors Carlie Young and Megan Desrats were the Oneonta recipients for 2025-26. To be nominated, a student-athlete must play regularly for the team and carry at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale). Athletes who are nominated must also have participated in at least 90 percent or started at least two-thirds of the team's games.

The Oneonta women's track & field team had four athletes earn U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Niagara Region recognition following the conclusion of the NCAA Division III indoor season.

The Oneonta men's track & field team had four athletes earn U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Niagara Region recognition following the conclusion of the NCAA Division III indoor season. The top eight individuals in each event from their region on the year-end Descending Order Lists earned an All-Region distinction, in addition to each member of the region's top eight relay teams. Senior Tariq Earl earned all-region for the 60-meter hurdles, senior Josh Jerome for the triple jump, junior Kejhaune Lester in the 60-meter and 200-meter, and junior Isaiah Slater in the long jump.

Oneonta men's lacrosse junior Jamie O'Neil capped off his remarkable third season by being named All-American by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) and USA Lacrosse. O'Neil garnered honorable mention honors from both groups and became the seventh Red Dragon in program history to earn USILA All-American recognition.

Five Oneonta wrestlers earned National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) 2025 NCAA Division III Men's Scholar All-American honors this season. Juniors Jack Ryan, Carson LiCastri, Avery Leonard, and freshmen Jackson Maby, and Ryley Monica all received the honor. To be eligible for Scholar All-American, student-athletes must place in the top 8 in the regional tournament or wrestle at least 15 matches and have a win percentage greater than 66%. They also must have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher.

Junior Danielle Copp (Marcellus, N.Y./Marcellus) earned a spot on the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Women's Tennis Academic All-District Team this month. The award recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. Copp graduated after three years at Oneonta with a 3.95 cumulative GPA studying Family & Consumer Sciences Education. Copp is also an All-SUNYAC Second Team selection at No. 2 singles. She finished the season 8-9 in singles play with a 6-8 record on the No. 2 court and 2-1 at No. 1 singles. In conference play, Copp went 3-2 overall, including a victory on the No. 1 singles court. To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve on the team with at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at her current institution. Eligible nominees need to be in the lineup for 70-percent of the total matches played by the team that includes team scores.

Oneonta softball senior Julia Serena concluded her historic career by being named All-American and All-Region by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). With the accolades, Julia "Jewels" Serena became the first NFCA All-American in program history and the first ever to earn All-Region honors four times. She received All-American Third Team recognition after she collected All-Region First Team status for the second time in her career.

Sophomore Chris Chippari (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Roy C Ketcham) garnered a post-season award with the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Men's Tennis Academic All-District Team this month. The award recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom. Chippari was an All-WIAC First Team selection in the spring and finished the semester with a 3.56 cumulative GPA as a major in Adolescence Education: Mathematics. Chippari primarily played No. 1 singles, compiling a 5-5 record on the year. He grabbed three wins at No. 2 singles and helped the No. 1 doubles team go 9-8 overall. To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve on the team with at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at her current institution. Eligible nominees need to be in the lineup for 70-percent of the total matches played by the team that includes team scores.

Seven Oneonta men's and women's swimming & diving team members picked up College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honors. The award recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in the pool and classroom. To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a significant contributor to the team with at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at their current institution. Each school is limited to four nominations. Eligible individuals must compete in five competitions or finish in the top eight at a conference meet. Oneonta finished the season at the SUNYAC-AMCC Championships. The women placed fifth, while the men were sixth.

Oneonta men's soccer junior Dillon Kelly (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Beacon) was named the 2024 SUNYAC Men's Soccer Scholar Athlete of the Year. The award is nominated and voted on by the conference sports information directors. Kelly holds a 3.95 overall GPA as a Biology major and was a 2024 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District selection. He started 17 games at defense for the Red Dragons men's team this past season and was named All-SUNYAC third team for his performance.

The SUNYAC recognized Oneonta senior Sabrinna Mena as the 2024 Women's Cross Country Scholar Athlete of the Year. Mena holds a 3.94 cumulative GPA as a dietetics major and was the SUNYAC Elite 20 winner in 2023 for having the highest GPA at the conference championship meet. Mena finished as the SUNYAC Championship runner-up in 2024 with a time of 24:04.9 to earn All-SUNYAC First Team Honors. She placed 20th at the NCAA Division III Niagara Region Championship to pick up all-region honors.

Two members of the Oneonta women's cross country team earned United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NCAA Division III Women's Cross Country All-Academic honors on Thursday. Juniors Ella DePhillips (Monroe, NY/Monroe-Woodbury) and Megan Francoeur (New Lebanon, NY/Pittsfield (MA)) both received the recognition. Additionally, the women's cross country team was named all-academic.

In honor of NCAA Division III week, which runs April 7-13, 2025, SUNY Oneonta has announced the induction of 30 student-athletes into its chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma. Chi Alpha Sigma is a nonprofit organization that recognizes college student-athletes who excel on and off the field of competition. Student-athletes who participate in a sport at the varsity intercollegiate level, achieve junior academic standing or higher after their fifth full-time semester, earn a 3.5 or higher cumulative grade point average, contribute to their team athletically and act as good citizens are eligible to be nominated by their coaches for Chi Alpha Sigma membership.

After being named the SUNYAC Women's Scholar Athlete of the Year, Oneonta senior Sabrinna Mena is the SUNY Women's Cross Country Scholar Athlete of the Year. Mena holds a 3.94 cumulative GPA as a dietetics major and was the SUNYAC Elite 20 winner in 2023 for having the highest GPA at the conference championship meet. Additionally, Mena was a SUNYAC Women's Cross Country Hall of Fame inductee for finishing in the top five of one conference meet.