Representing Stony Brook University daily through sports forces Seawolves athletes to stay on their toes, whether the whistle is being blown or a midterm is looming. Many find it difficult to balance the stress of being both a student and an athlete, but a few have managed to do it well enough to gain recognition, not only from Stony Brook, but the America East Conference as a whole.

Arin West

A safety on a Seawolves football team that is undefeated in conference play, West (Toms River, NJ) was named Big South Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his stellar play in the team’s defeat of Gardner-Webb on Saturday. Not only did he match a career high in tackles with 11, but the junior also recovered a fumble, transforming it to points by returning it 16 yards to the end zone. West forced another fumble and was a key contributor in disrupting the Gardner-Webb offense and limiting it to only six rushing yards in the third and fourth quarters combined.

Debbie Aller

A defender on the women’s soccer team that reached the conference semifinals for the third straight year, Aller (Stony Brook, NY) was recently named to the conference’s All-Academic team. The anthropology and environmental studies major has made the Dean’s List each of her four semesters at SBU, and has managed to keep a 3.57 grade point average as well. The junior is also involved in the university’s Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities department, winning the department’s ‘Researcher of the Month’ award for September.

Leonardo Fernandes

Leading the men’s soccer team with 6 goals and 14 points on the season, freshman midfielder Fernandes recently received Rookie of the Week honors from the America East Conference. After kicking in the game-winning goal in the 1-0 win against Hartford last weekend and helping the Seawolves to a second seed in the conference tournament, the freshman is getting much deserved attention.

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