General 11/4/2025 10:22:00 AM Athletic Communications

#NPHawks Athlete of the Week: Fall 2025, Ninth Edition

The State University of New York at New Paltz Athlete of the Week poll is back for the Fall 2025 season! We are allowing the fans, students, campus, and the entire Hawks community to decide on who should be the #NPHawks Athlete of the Week. Whichever athlete receives the most votes will be featured on nphawks.com and all #NPHawks social media channels. Make sure to get your vote in before 11 a.m. on Wednesday!

Poll Maker

Orquidea Briceno (Women's Cross Country): Orquidea Briceno finished eleventh overall in Saturday's SUNYAC Championship final with a personal best time of 22:53.2 in the women's 6k. She earned third team all-conference honors, helping the Hawks come in sixth place.
Lola Konopa (Women's Volleyball): Women's Volleyball junior Lola Konopa earned her first SUNYAC Defensive Player of the Week award with her performance over this week's games. In Friday's game against Fredonia, she tallied a game-high five blocks, four being solo blocks, and an efficient eight kills. In Saturday's game against Buffalo State, she finished with four blocks, seven kills, and four digs.
Brianna Law (Women's Swim): Brianna Law played a large part in Saturday's swim meet against Adelphi. Law placed second in her 400-yard medley relay, third in her 100 yard breast stroke with a time of 1:17.61, and third in the 200 yard freestyle relay.
Oliver Melara-Perez (Men Cross Country): Earning first team all-conference honors with a time of 26:14.8 for the men's 8k, Oliver Melara-Perez put it all on the table for his second place-finish. He assisted the Hawks in placing third in the final, and he was immediately inducted into the SUNYAC Hall of Fame.
Madeline Meyer (Field Hockey): Field Hockey senior Madeline Meyer played the full 60 minutes in both their games against Montclair and Vassar. Meyer's defensive efforts helped the Hawks in the two games.
Jack Samko (Men's Swim): Jack Samko had a great performance in Saturday's swim meet against Adelphi. Samko finished the meet with a second-place finish in the 50 yard freestyle with a time of 22.77, third in the 100 yard butterfly with a time of 55.79, and third in the 400-yard medley.
Laney Schmitz (Women's Soccer): Women's Soccer senior Laney Schmitz was a key effort in keeping the Hawks in Saturday's game. Schmitz assisted their one goal made and had three shots created of her own.
Alex Wyant (Men's Soccer): Men's Soccer senior Alex Wyant was able to get off one shot during Saturday's game against Oneonta. Wyant helped the Hawks outshoot their opponent 11-7.