ALFRED, NY - Carlos Gonzalez (Baja California, Mexico/Unifront) of the Alfred University men's swimming & diving was named as the 2024-25 Men's Swimming & Diving Empire 8 Rookie of the Year, as announced by the conference on Tuesday. 

Gonzalez enjoyed a historic first-year season with the Saxons, finishing as the runner-up in the 400-yard individual medley (4:01.25) and 200-yard breaststroke (2:04.42), while placing fourth in the 200-yard individual medley at the 2025 Empire 8 Championships. He also placed in third for the 400- and 800-yard freestyle relay teams. Gonzalez was a four-time Empire 8 Swimming and Diving Athlete of the Week during the 2024-25 season.

William LaMastus (Maumee, OH/Anthony Wayne) wrapped up his senior season with Second Team honors in the 200-yard backstroke (1:55.03). LaMastus was joined by Wade LaMastus (Maumee, OH/Anthony Wayne), Emiliano Terrazas (La Paz, Bolivia/Saint Andrew's) and Emmanuel Drappatz (Pittsburgh, PA/Fox Chapel Area) to earn First Team recognition in the 200-yard medley relay (1:33.81). In the 400-yard medley relay, Will LaMastus, Gonzalez, Terrazas and Drappatz clocked in with a time of 3:27.94 to earn Second Team honors. 

Keagen Winkky (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) was additionally selected as an Empire 8 Men's Swimming & Diving Sportsman of the Year. The league emphasizes that "Competing with Honor and Integrity" is an essential component of a student-athlete's experience in conjunction with an institution's educational mission.