ALBANY, N.Y. - The University at Albany spring athletics programs have earned three SUNY Scholar-Athlete honors as announced by Chancellor John B. King Jr. from the SUNY System. 
 
Honored for combining academic achievement with success in the arena of athletic competition during the third year of selection of the SUNY Scholar-Athlete Awards, the spring awards honor eight sports in Division I - men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's outdoor track and field, men's and women's tennis, softball, and baseball - as well as an At Large award for both men and women.
 
Leaders in the classroom and on their field of competition, Simone Menchini (men's outdoor track and field), Beatriz Mora Herencia (women's outdoor track and field), and Lucia Esteban (women's at-large) were honored with their respective sports' awards. 
 
Simone Menchini - Men's Outdoor Track and Field, Sophomore
During the 2025 outdoor track and field season, Simone Menchini earned a spot at the NCAA East Prelims in Jacksonville, Florida. During his first career regionals appearance, Menchini finished 24th in long jump, an improvement on his 43rd-ranked entry distance. In addition to his prowess during the outdoor season, Menchini won the long jump at the America East Indoor Championships after breaking the school record earlier in 2025.
 
The SUNY Scholar-Athlete award is his latest in a long line of academic awards. With a 3.90 in business administration, Menchini was named to the America East All-Academic Team following both the indoor and outdoor seasons.
 
Beatriz Mora Herencia - Women's Outdoor Track and Field, Freshman
In her first season as a Great Dane, Beatriz Mora Herencia made history. Reaching the NCAA Championship, the javelin thrower is one of just a few freshmen All-Americans to come out of the UAlbany track and field program. In one year, Mora Herencia broke the school record in javelin, won the America East championship in javelin, and finished top-12 at NCAA Regionals to qualify for the championship.
 
A business administration major, Mora Herencia finished her first year as a college student with a 4.00 overall GPA for her first SUNY Scholar-Athlete award. 
 
Lucia Esteban - Women's Golf, Junior
Lucia Esteban enjoyed another strong year for the Great Danes, competing in every event UAlbany participated in throughout the year. Her golf game peaked most when it mattered, finishing second on the team at both the Rutgers Invitational and the MAAC Championship. At Rutgers, Esteban used a strong final round to finish in a tie for 12th overall. She kept the momentum going at the MAAC Championship with three-straight rounds shooting +4 or lower to finish in a tie for eighth place.
 
Her first SUNY Scholar-Athlete award is the latest in Esteban's line of awards following the 2024-25 season. With a 3.94 cumulative GPA in business administration and accounting, she was previously named a MAAC All-Academic Team selection and a WCGA All-American Scholar.
 
The Spring SUNY Scholar Athlete Awards recognized 28 student-athletes from SUNY colleges and universities sponsoring intercollegiate athletics at the four- and two-year levels who were nominated and voted upon by representatives of their respective institutions.
 
More than 14,000 student-athletes compete at SUNY institutions representing 53 different colleges and universities at the NCAA Division I, NCAA Division III/USCAA, and NJCAA levels and are eligible for the awards.
 
Click here for more information from the SUNY website.
 
Keep up with all of the latest news, highlights, and insights on UAlbany sports by following the department on X, Instagram, and Facebook.