VESTAL, N.Y. - Binghamton spring sport standouts Rachel Carey and Matt Bolton have been named the school's Athletes of the Year for the 2025-26 school year. Both produced exceptional seasons and led their respective teams to America East titles and NCAA Regionals. 

Carey, a sophomore softball third baseman, became just the second player in America East Conference history to be named both its Player of the Year and Tournament Most Outstanding Player during the same season. Carey was also named first-team NFCA All-Northeast Region and was selected to the ECAC All-Star Team. She ended the season with a .468 batting average, the sixth-highest mark in the nation. She also ranked fifth in the nation with 0.40 doubles per game and No. 34 with an .854 slugging percentage. 

The other female finalists for Athlete of the Year were Sophia Garofalo (soccer), Merima Smajlovic (volleyball), Emma Blloshmi (lacrosse), Kendall Bennett (basketball) and Alyssa Armitage (track & field). 

Bolton, a sophomore baseball center fielder, was named second team ABCA/Rawlings All-Northeast Region and was a key ingredient in the Bearcats' repeating as America East champions and NCAA Regional participants. He led the team and ranked among the conference top-4 in average (.340), OPS (.995), doubles (16), triples (4) and slugging (.550). Bolton was a first team all-conference outfielder and was named America East Championship Most Outstanding Player. In two seasons, he is on pace to become the program's all-time leader in hits, doubles, triples and runs. He also is on pace to be among the America East career top-2 in hits and runs. 

The other male finalists for Athlete of the Year were Jeremiah Quigley (basketball), Connor Winters (lacrosse), Ronin Lotlikar (tennis), Brennan Delany (track) and Evan Peters (swimming).