The 2020 SUNY Cortland C-Club Athletic Awards Ceremony, originally scheduled for May 4, was canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak. In its place, Cortland Athletics is honoring its student-athletes as part of an online "Awards Week" series of releases May 4-8. The 2019-20 C-Club Rookies of the Year were announced on Wednesday, May 5.

Men's basketball forward/guard Austin Grunder (Trumansburg/Charles O. Dickerson) is the Male Rookie of the Year, while swimmer Leah Bernhardt (Groton) and basketball forward Nyia Longford (Medford/Longwood) are co-recipients of the Female Rookie of the Year honor. Candidates for the awards must have been in their first season of intercollegiate athletic competition in 2019-20.

Grunder earned All-East Region honors and first-team All-SUNYAC recognition and was named both the D3hoops.com East Region and the SUNYAC Men's Basketball Rookie of the Year. He averaged 21.1 points and 14.7 rebounds per game, ranked second nationally in Division III in rebounding and double-doubles (22), and set a school single-season record with 367 rebounds.

"Austin had a great season," said Cortland men's basketball head coach Tom Spanbauer. "He broke the Cortland single-season rebound record which had stood for over 50 years. He was also an outstanding leader for the team on a daily basis with his work ethic. He had one of the best seasons any Cortland basketball player has ever had."

Bernhardt was the SUNYAC Women's Swimming and Diving Rookie of the Year. She won the league title in the 500-yard freestyle in a school-record time of 5:03.23 and was the league runner-up in the 200-yard freestyle. Bernhardt also was part of two SUNYAC runner-up relay teams, including the 800-yard freestyle relay unit that set a school record (7:49.11).

"As a freshman, Leah's drive and effort were outstanding," said Cortland swimming and diving head coach Brian Tobin. "She gave 100 percent every day and always had a positive, can-do attitude. At the SUNYAC Championships her focus helped her perform under pressure and she not only won the 500 freestyle but also set a school record. Leah's brother is Hunter, and she is "killer" in the pool."

Longford was chosen as the SUNYAC Women's Basketball Rookie of the Year and earned a spot on the all-league third team. She averaged 11 points and 6.5 rebounds per game to rank second on the Red Dragon squad in both categories. She also was chosen to the SUNYAC All-Tournament Team.

"Nyia has been a fantastic addition CWB (Cortland Women's Basketball) both on and off the court," said Red Dragon head coach Jacey Brooks. "She made the adjustment to college basketball very quickly and was a key factor for our success all season long. Nyia is best known for her steady-eddy game that she brings every day, no matter the opponent. Her teammates admire and respect her leadership qualities as they looked to her in many big situations this season, which says a lot about her as a rookie."

Other finalists for the men's Rookie of the Year award were ice hockey player Luca Esposito (Bolton, ON/St. Michael's College School), track and field athletes Coltrane Goring (Los Angeles, CA/Notre Dame) and Brett Morse (Saratoga Springs), soccer player Braden Melveney (Clay/Cicero-North Syracuse), wrestler Chandler Merwin (Walton) and swimmer Aiden Poli (Cortland/Home schooled).

Other finalists for the women's Rookie of the Year award were gymnast Glynis Curcione (Wilson), ice hockey player Dany Donegan (Cicero/Cicero-North Syracuse), volleyball player Carly Haegele (Commack), soccer and ice hockey player Jayden Kelley (East Berne/Voorheesville), and tennis player Abby Madigan (Endicott/Union-Endicott).

In addition, Cortland Athletics recognized individual/relay school record-setting performances from the 2019-20 season:

Chelsea Allain, Women's Ice Hockey – Shutouts, Career (8) (extended her own record); Tied Most Wins, Season (10)
Travis Alvarez, Football – Career Blocked Kicks (10)
Danielle Bambola, Women's Golf – Best Two-Day Score (144) (broke her own record), Tied Best Single-Round Score (71) (tied her own record)
Leah Bernhardt, Women's Swimming and Diving – 500-yard freestyle (5:03.23)
Beth Bonin, Women's Basketball – Most 3-Pointers, Season (81)
Brendan Fitzpatrick, Men's Basketball – Most Assists, Game (12, twice); Best 3-Point Percentage, Season (51.5)
Nick Galeto, Men's Swimming and Diving – 100-yard backstroke (51.04) (broke own school record)
Austin Grunder, Men's Basketball – Most Rebounds, Season (367)
Taylor Hunter, Women's Indoor Track and Field – 200-meter dash (25.35)
Grace Schnorr, Women's Ice Hockey – Most Goals, Career (34), Most Goals, Season (19), Most Points, Season (32) (since program re-started in 2000-01)
Emma Schulz, Women's Gymnastics – Tied records for floor exercise (9.90) and balance beam (9.825) (she held share of both of those records previously)
Brett Segala, Football – Career Passing Yardage (6,518), Career Completions (467), Career TD Passes (59), Career 300-Yard Passing Games (9)
Miguel Tunas, Men's Soccer – Career Assists (34) (extended his own school record)
Taylor Williams, Women's Swimming and Diving – 3-meter diving (496.80 pts.) and 1-meter diving (492.68 pts.)
Women's Swimming and Diving – 800-yard freestyle relay (Lily Miller, Kailyn Anselment, Leah Bernhardt, Marissa Kordal) (7:49.11)
 
(NOTE: Some records may be missing from this list; please submit any possible additions to fran.elia@cortland.edu)

The remaining schedule for "Awards Week" is below. Winners each day will be posted on Cortland Athletics Instagram (CortlandRedDragons) at the times listed, with a story recapping each day posted at 6 p.m. on the Athletics website and Facebook (CortlandRedDragons) and Twitter (@RedDragonPride) feeds.

Thursday, May 7
Unsung Hero Award winner(s) at 11 a.m.
Carl "Chugger" Davis Award winner at 2 p.m.
M. Louise Moseley Award winner at 5 p.m.

Friday, May 8
C-Club Coach of the Year Award winner at 11 a.m.
C-Club Female Senior Athlete of the Year Award winner at 2 p.m.
C-Club Male Senior Athlete of the Year Award winner at 5 p.m.