Albany, NY—The Sage College's department of athletics gathered to recognize and honor the outstanding performances of the 2017-2018 year with the naming of the athletic award winners for the 15 varsity athletic teams. In addition to awarding the Gator Award, for the Most Outstanding Player, the department also named the 2017-2018 Female and Male Athletes of the Year as well as the Dean Sharon Robinson Senior Male and Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year, which is given to the senior student-athlete with the highest overall grade point average, as well as the Aggie Stillman Perseverance Award.

Sage also awarded the Gator of the Year to members of the varsity teams, often awarded to the team's most valuable player. Named the Gator of the Year in men's soccer was junior captain Ryan Fairweather (Middletown, NY/Minisink Valley).

Head men's soccer coach Keith Simons noted of Ryan, "Ryan has truly dedicated himself and his time to our program." Simons added, "He is instrumental to our success both on and off the field and I am extremely proud that he represents us so well."

Over the course of the 2017 season, The Gators wrapped their first season as a new member of the Empire 8 Conference by advancing to the championship game and just missed a shot at the league's championship crown after allowing a goal with just 16 seconds left in the match. Sage wrapped the 2017 season with a 10-6-2 overall record after finishing conference play as the No. 3 seed after recording a record of 4-2-1.

A team captain this past fall, Fairweather earned acclaim on defense after helping Sage with his play. He was named to the Empire 8 All-Star Second Team on defense. He also added five points this season on two goals with an assist. His assist came on the game-winning goal in the Empire 8 semifinals as Sage topped Nazareth in overtime. He also earned acclaim as a member of Sage's Scholar-Athlete Team in the Fall of 2017, while also induction into Sage's Athletic Honor Society at the end of the year banquet. He was also named to the 2017 Empire 8 Fall Presidents' List for his academic prowess. Very active on campus, Fairweather was a frequent participant in numerous community service projects and was a team leader with the Sage Chompers' Reading Program as well.