Canton, NY – Sierra Pabo and Trey Miller headlined the major award winners taking home Student-Athlete of the Year honors at the 2026 Roodys, the SUNY Canton Athletics department's end-of-year awards banquet on Monday, April 27, 2026.

Pabo (women's basketball) and Miller (men's hockey) were named Female and Male Student-Athletes of the Year, respectively. Raine Rumble (men's golf) and Spencer Sasenbury (men's hockey) were tabbed Co-Male Rookie of the Year, while Kate Whitley (women's lacrosse, women's soccer) and Madelin Marquart (softball) were named Co-Female Rookie of the Year.

Kelson Hooper (men's hockey) and Cory Liu (men's hockey) tied for the males with the highest overall GPA in their graduating class, while Asha Hanson (women's hockey) earned the highest female GPA in the graduating class. The women's soccer and women's hockey teams earned Make-A-Difference awards, while Jim Sheppard and Drew Harmer were recognized with SUNY Canton Athletics Appreciation awards for their support of the Athletics department.

There was also a Game of the Year award with four finalists: the women's hockey team's 1-0 win at Oswego (1/30/26), the baseball team's 4-3 win vs. Fredonia (4/24/26), the men's hockey team's 4-1 win at Oswego (1/31/26) and the men's golf team's win at the Clarkson Invitational (9/3/25). The men's hockey team's first ever win at No. 4 nationally-ranked Oswego, a 4-1 victory on January 31, was the winner as it marked the second highest ranked win in program history.

This year the popular trivia contest returned for the third year as the men's hockey team earned the trivia title. A red-carpet event returned for the second year where Harmer interviewed student-athletes prior to the awards ceremony and a couple of fun Roody awards. 
   

Student-Athletes of the Year:
 
Female
Sierra Pabo, Women's Basketball
Pabo had another spectacular season for the SUNY Canton women's basketball team leading the squad with 15.0 points per game, 4.3 assists per game, and 1.6 steals per game on a team that finished third in the SUNYAC with a 12-6 conference record and a 19-7 overall mark. Her 15.0 points per game ranked third in the conference while 4.3 assists per game was good for fourth. A First Team All-Conference Selection, Pabo finished third in SUNY Canton D-III-history in single-season points (389), fourth in points per game (15.0), second in field goals made (155), and third with 111 assists. As a Second Team All-Region selection by D3Hoops, the California native is currently second in D-III-era history in both career points per game average (14.5) and total points (1,159), as well as top 10 in field goal percentage, three pointers, three point field goal percentage, free throws made, free throw percentage, third in assists (261), and eighth in steals (103). Despite playing for only three seasons, Pabo is already the D-III-era leader in field goals made at 461. The captain scored double figures in 23 of her 26 games, tying a career-high with 28 points against Clarkson on November 11, leading the Roos to a 74-63 road victory. Pabo notched her 1,000th career point against New Paltz on January 20th, which was also the same game in which she put in her 400th career field goal. The third year then scored 28 again in a blowout 72-41 win at home over Oneonta (1/27/26). Pabo was highly efficient 78.6% (11-for-14) from the floor in this game, giving her the fourth-highest single-game field goal percentage (min. 10 attempts) in the D-III-era. She recorded six or more assists in nine different games and set her career high in assists in the final game of the regular season against Fredonia on February 21 with nine dimes.

Male
Trey Miller, Men's Hockey
Miller had a historic season in between the pipes for the SUNY Canton men's hockey team, helping the team make the SUNYAC playoffs for the second consecutive season. Miller's junior season, composed of 19 appearances and 18 starts, saw him set a number of D-III-era single-season records, including a .934 save percentage, a 2.29 goals-against-average, and 577 total saves. His save percentage was second in the SUNYAC and total saves were third in the conference. Through three seasons, the Columbus, Ohio native is currently at the top of the SUNY Canton men's hockey podium in career save percentage (.924), goals-against-average (2.67), and win percentage (.547, 17-14-1).

A two-time SUNYAC Goaltender of the Week (1/20, 2/23), Miller was at the center of many key wins for the Roos this season. The third year made 42 saves and allowed just one goal in a 2-1 road victory at Nazareth on November 25 to push the Roos to 3-0-0 on the young season. In conference play, Miller played all 60 minutes in SUNY Canton's 4-1 win at then-No. 4 Oswego on January 31, turning aside 35-of-36 shots (.972 save percentage) in what was the second-highest ranked win in program history. He stopped all 14 shots he faced in the third period of that game as Canton scored two empty-netters in the final minute for the three goal win. Miller then recorded his first shutout of the season at Buffalo State on February 13 with a 36-save-performance which was the third-most saves in a shutout by a SUNY Canton goalie in the D-III-era. On Senior Day and the final regular season game of the season, the 6-1 netminder saved 35 shots in a 2-1 win, eclipsing 1,000 career saves in the game. His career save number sits at 1,053 which is fifth all-time as he looks to chase the program record of 1,357 (Michael Cerasuolo '20) next season.
 

Rookies of the Year:

Co-Male
Raine Rumble, Men's Golf
Rumble, a local freshman from Gouverneur, New York became one of the best SUNY Canton men's golf freshmen to hit the links in 2025-26. Early in the season on September 3, Rumble led the Roos in the 2025 Clarkson Invitational, setting a program record in just his third collegiate event by shooting a round of 4-under par, 68, topping the field of 39 golfers by four strokes. Rumble led the Roos to the team win in the event with a team score of 301 over St. Lawrence, Clarkson, and Oswego. A few days later at the St. Lawrence Invitational, Rumble was top five on both days of the event shooting a round of 150 (77-73). Finally, at the Lou Jarvis Invitational in Jay, Vermont on September 8, Rumble finished in second place among a field of 24 golfers with a round of 3-over par, 75 (41-34).

During the Empire 8 Men's Golf Championship in mid-April Rumble had the best two-round total in the spring portion of the event with a two-round total of 157. He finished third overall with a three-round score of 310 (74-79-80-77) across the four-round event earning Empire 8 First Team All-Conference honors with his top five finish. His score was the lowest score among all rookies as he was named the Empire 8 Rookie of the Year, finishing third overall. Rumble, who was consistently among the top two finishers for SUNY Canton in various matches across the year, was a two-time Empire 8 Men's Golf Player of the Week (9/9/25, 4/21/26).

Spencer Sasenbury, Men's Hockey
Sasenbury had a tremendous rookie season with the SUNY Canton men's hockey team as he led the program to their second-straight SUNYAC playoff appearance and a four-win improvement from the previous season. A member of the SUNYAC All-Rookie Team, Sasenbury was second on the Roos accumulating 22 points on eight goals and 14 assists as well as third on the team with a +4 on-ice rating. The in-state skater from Fayetteville, New York was eighth in the SUNYAC scoring 18 points in conference play and his 22-point season total was tied for ninth all-time in the D-III-era for the men's hockey team. Sasenbury's first collegiate point came in his second collegiate game on November 8 with an assist in a 5-1 win over Misericordia. His first goal was the eventual game- winner in a 4-1 victory at Elmira on November 8. Sasenbury scored twice in that game and followed that up with two goals against Potsdam in the next game on November 14. The center really came along late in the season, with a five-game point streak to end the regular season. These included two three points games with a game-winning goal plus two assists against Morrisville on February 7 and then two goals and an apple in a 5-2 win at Fredonia on February 14. Sasenbury was named the SUNYAC Rookie of the Week on November 10, 2025.

Co-Female
Kate Whitley, Women's Lacrosse & Women's Soccer
Whitley, a two-sport athlete on the women's lacrosse and soccer team had a standout rookie season. She was a force to be reckoned with during her first season on the women's lacrosse team. Often times playing on both ends of the field, Whitley registered six goals and five assists on the offensive side, but on defense was where she really shined. The freshman from Adams, New York picked up 58 ground balls, over twice as many as the second highest on the team and nearly 25% of the team's total number of ground balls on the season. This number ranked second in the SUNYAC and is tied for sixth all-time in a single season in SUNY Canton program history. She also had 37 caused turnovers to lead the team and was second on the Roos with 30 draw control wins. Her 37 caused turnovers in a season was the fifth-most ever by the SUNY Canton women's lacrosse player and the most since 2019 (Molly Denny '20) and also ranked tied for third in the SUNYAC. After registering a goal and an assist in her collegiate debut against Alfred State on February 28, Whitley caused four turnovers picked up nine ground balls in a 9-2 win at SUNY Poly on March 4 in her second collegiate game, becoming just one of five players in the history of the program to record nine or more ground balls in a single game.

Whitley ended the season on a four-game point streak and in the season finale, a 14-7 win against Potsdam on April 22, Whitley had an assist, seven ground balls, and a career-best six caused turnovers, finishing just one caused turnover shy of tying a program record. For her performance in the season finale she was named the SUNYAC Defensive Athlete of the Week (4/27/26).

On the soccer pitch she logged nearly 1,400 minutes roaming the midfield for the Roos. She started all 18 matches she appeared in as a freshman, placing nearly half of her shot attempts on net.

Madelin Marquart, Softball
Marquart, a freshman on the softball team, has started her collegiate career in a very impressive manner. Marquart has started all 24 games for the Roos and leads the team in nearly every offensive category, most notably with her .368 BA/.419 OB %/.471 SLG % slash line, 15 runs scored, seven stolen bases and seven multi-hit games. The native of Syracuse, New York ranks 15th in the SUNYAC with her batting average, 17th in stolen bases, and 25th in on-base percentage. Marquart's collegiate career began with a four-game hit streak and at least one hit in nine of her first 10 contests. This included a 3-for-3 day with two runs scored and an RBI in her second-ever game against Penn State Mont Alto on March 9. As part of this streak, Marquart enjoyed two hits including a double along with three runs scored to push the Roos to their first victory of the season on April 1 against VTSU Johnson.
 

Graduating Senior Highest Cumulative GPA Awards:
 
Co-Male: Kelson Hooper, Men's Hockey – 4.00
Hooper, a senior goaltender on the men's hockey team, carries a perfect 4.0 GPA through his 3.5 years in the Applied Psychology program. The Ogdensburg, NY native appeared in 41 games during his four-year career registering 14 wins and a .902 save percentage including a 9-4-0 record during his rookie season. He has been named to the SUNYAC Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll and an AHCA All American Scholar. Following his freshman year he was named the SUNY Canton Athletics department's Male Co-Rookie of the Year and to the All-Independent Second Team.

Co-Male: Cory Liu, Men's Hockey – 4.0
Liu, a senior defenseman on the men's hockey team, carries a perfect 4.0 GPA through his time on campus. The Markham, Ontario native is graduating with an Information Technology degree in just three years. A member of the SUNYAC Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll and AHCA All American Scholar, Liu appeared in 72 career games registering 21 points on two goals and 19 assists.

Female: Asha Hanson – Women's Hockey – 4.0
Hanson, a senior defender on the women's hockey team, carries a perfect 4.0 GPA in the Applied Psychology program. An Early Childhood Education minor, she was named to both the SUNYAC Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll and an AHCA All American Scholar. Hanson appeared in 95 career games registering 14 points on a goal and 13 assists, while also being recognized academically with the highest GPA in her major. She is also one of the key members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council serving as Vice President.
 

Defenders of the Year:
Male
Lateef Johnson Jr., Men's Basketball
Johnson Jr. , a junior on the men's basketball team, had an impressive first season with the Roos. He was named D3hoops.com Third Team All-Region and SUNYAC Second Team All-Conference after averaging a double-double 19.8 points and 12.0 rebounds per game shooting nearly 55% from the field and 30% from three-point range. He led the SUNYAC in rebounds per game (12.0), steals per game (2.6) and blocks per game (2.0), while ranking second in points per game (19.8), third in field goal percentage (54.5) and fifth in assists per game (3.2).

Johnson Jr. recorded the first triple-double in D-III era program history with 15 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists vs. Oswego (2/6/26). His 11 assists vs. the Lakers also tied a program record. Johnson Jr. finishes the season with a single-game program record of 14 made field goals (1/23/26 vs. Fredonia) and a single-season rebounds per game record (12.0).

He finished the season with 11 double-doubles including a 32 point, 17 rebound effort in his first game with the Roos against VTSU Castleton (1/2/26). He also had a 20-20 game with 26 points and 23 rebounds in his first SUNYAC contest against Oneonta (1/6/26). His 23 rebounds against the Red Dragons were the second most by a Canton player in D-III era program history.
Perhaps his most impressive performance came when he went for 36 points and 18 rebounds at Fredonia (1/23/26). The 36 points were the second most in a single game for a Roo in D-III era program history, while his 14 made field goals were the most in a game in the same era. His 12.0 rebounds per game set a D-III era single-season program record. Johnson Jr. was named the SUNYAC Athlete of the Week on January 26.

Female
Molly Lenihan, Women's Hockey
Lenihan, a junior on the women's hockey team, had a stellar third season with the Roos ranking second in the SUNYAC in save percentage (.941) and third in goals against average (1.68), while both those marks were single-season Roos program records. She eclipsed the 1,000 career save milestone at Hamilton (1/3/26). Lenihan also owns the program record for most saves in a shutout with 44 at Oswego this past season (1/30/26). She is the active career leader with a .935 save percentage and a 1.98 goals against average. Lenihan finished the season with 30 plus saves on six different occasions leading the women's hockey team to their second consecutive SUNYAC playoff berth.
 

Game of the Year:
Men's Hockey 4-1 win at No. 4 nationally-ranked Oswego on January 31, 2026.
Niko Schoner lit the lamp twice and the SUNY Canton men's hockey team stunned the fourth-ranked Oswego State Lakers with a 4-1 road win on January 31. The win marked the first for the Roos against the Lakers in men's hockey and was the second-highest ranked win in program history, only behind beating No. 3 Adrian 6-4 (12/30/18). Trey Miller was outstanding between the pipes making 35 saves on 36 shots (.927 save %) including stopping all 14 shots he faced in the third period. Colton Alexander scored the eventual game-winner at 7:44 of the third period and the Roos added a pair of empty-netters in the final minute for the three-goal win.
 
STORY | HIGHLIGHTS | BOAK POSTGAME
 

The other nominees for Game of the Year included: the women's hockey team's 1-0 win at Oswego on January 30, 2026,  the baseball team's 8-7 walk-off win in extra innings against Rivier on March 12, 2026 in Myrtle Beach, and the men's golf team's team win at the Clarkson Invitational along with Raine Rumble's record-breaking performance on September 3, 2025.

Make-A-Difference Awards:
This year we will be handing out two Make-A-Difference awards. These awards go to two teams who made a huge difference for the Athletics department during the 2025-26 academic year.

Women's Soccer Team
The SUNY Canton women's soccer team has been heavily involved in both the campus and greater community during the 2025-26 school year. They had a booth at the President's Holiday party that the kids in attendance absolutely loved. They also had a car at Trunk-or-Treat passing out candy near Halloween to hundreds of kids. Members of the women's soccer team spearheaded the organization of the 5K Cancer Run/Walk for the second straight year held on SUNY Canton's campus on April 26, 2026. Student-athletes from the team have also been a huge part of the Roos efforts at Special Olympics. Players also spent time reading books to Pre-K students at Banford Elementary.

Women's Hockey Team
The SUNY Canton women's hockey team's efforts in the community this year continued to go above and beyond. The team volunteered at the Help Sami Kick Cancer event, the Norwood-Norfolk Kindness Day, took on a leadership role at the Roos Special Olympics event and had multiple players volunteer their time working with the Canton Blades at their practices. Below you can see a breakdown of all their community service efforts this academic year.

Help Sami Kick Cancer: For the fourth consecutive year, the women's hockey team volunteered with this non-profit organization at their annual Blue Jean Black Tie Event. which is one of their signature fundraisers to help raise funds for the organization whose mission is to enrich the lives of pediatric cancer patients and their families. The Lodge at Dreaming Tree Ranch, where the event was hosted, serves as a physical place where such families can reconnect with one another through nature. Each year, the Help Sami Kick Cancer Foundation hosts a handful of families to this beautiful location in the North Country. At the event, the SUNY Canton women's hockey players helped prepare the meal, clear plates, and serve desserts for the attendees.

Special Olympics: The women's hockey players took on a leadership role when SUNY Canton hosted the 2026 New York State North Country Region Special Olympics Summer Games on April 12.  The players spearheaded the organization and manning of the track events at the Special Olympics hosted at SUNY Canton this spring.

Norwood-Norfolk Kindness Day: The women's hockey team (along with men's hockey) lined the lobby of the elementary school at Norwood-Norfolk to spread kindness and positivity as the students arrived at school that day.

Canton Blades: Molly Lenihan and Taylor Stoll worked with members of the Canton Blades 10U youth team as Lenihan worked with the goalies and Stoll spent time working with players at their practices weekly.
 

SUNY Canton Athletics Appreciation Awards:
Jim Sheppard
Sheppard is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and the Assistant Director of Counseling at SUNY Canton, where he has supported student well-being since 2008. Sheppard has been the Roos Booster Club president assisting with team purchases from fundraising for all teams and the department general fund. He has also spearheaded our new counseling services for student-athletes and teams. Sheppard spends one day a week in the Roos House for drop-in and scheduled visits for student-athletes. He has also worked with a number of teams in groups and he can also be seen at almost every home event this year. In short, Sheppard been a spectacular ally and supporter and we can't thank him enough for all his efforts, particularly with student-athlete mental health, on our behalf.
 
Drew Harmer
Harmer is a graduating senior in the Electrical Engineering Technology program. He has been an integral part of SUNY Canton athletics game day staff since he stepped onto campus as a freshman. The Madrid, NY native has kept the book for all men's and women's home basketball games, while also inputting and serving as a stats spotter for several other sports ranging from soccer to hockey to lacrosse. You'll likely recognize him as the voice of the Roos as he has also served as a PA announcer for almost every sport and this year served as the Master of Ceremonies for the Special Olympics event on campus. A jack-of-all-trades, Harmer has also worked with photography for the department and at some point in his four-year career has done just about everything to make sure game operations run smoothly for all of our home events. Thank you for all your work behind the scenes, Drew.
 

Roo Cup
This year's winners of the Roo Cup for attending more home games than any other team on campus went to the women's soccer team.
   

Trivia Winners
The SUNY Canton men's hockey team took home the title of this year's Trivia Champions at the 2026 Roodys.

The men's hockey team made their way to the top of the trivia field to earn the trivia title edging out the men's lacrosse (second) and men's soccer (third) teams.  Trivia included five rounds of three questions each with two different players from each team competing in any given round.
 

There were also several fun Roody awards that were presented at this year's event as well.
   

Discover SUNY Canton, where innovation meets opportunity. The college's career-focused educational programs emphasize hands-on and applied learning opportunities in digital design, engineering technology, health, information technology, management, public service, and veterinary technology. Faculty members bring real-world experience and exceptional academic expertise to the classroom. As a leader in online education, SUNY Canton offers unmatched flexibility with hundreds of courses and 25 comprehensive degree programs offered completely online. The SUNY Canton Kangaroos compete at the NCAA Division III level and are members of the SUNYAC. In addition to its 15 traditional teams, SUNY Canton offers coed varsity esports and cheerleading.