HAMILTON – Colgate athletics held its 19th Annual Golden 'Gates awards ceremony Monday evening at Cotterell Court, honoring student-athletes and presenting department awards.

Athletes of the Year
After stellar seasons in their respective sports, Treyvhon Saunders of the football team and MG King from the swim and dive team were named Athletes of the Year.

Saunders led the nation with 50 receptions, 700 receiving yards, and 116.7 receiving yards per game before a season-ending Week 6 injury. He also had six touchdown receptions, which ranked top 10 nationally at the time. One of the most prolific student-athletes in Colgate Football history, Treyvhon broke the program's all-time record with 230 career receptions, and his 88 catches in 2024 were a single-season program best. An economics major, Treyvhon was a William V. Campbell Trophy Semifinalist, presented annually to the nation's top scholar-athlete. A three-time Patriot League First Team honoree and Academic All-League selection, Treyvhon was invited to the NFL-FCS Showcase in January and recently shined in his Pro Day as he works his way back to a full recovery. 

King put together a historic campaign for the Colgate women's swimming and diving program. The junior won gold in the 200-yard backstroke, becoming Colgate's first gold medalist since 2012. MG pulled away during the final lap, clocking in at 1:56.51, beating out the runner-up swimmer by more than a second. A native of Lake Forest, Ill., MG compiled 55 scoring points – good for third-best on the team – and also won the B Final in the 100 Back with a time of 55.11 during the four-day championship. The performance earned MG's second consecutive All-Patriot League First Team selection. Majoring in Classics, MG is also a two-time Academic All-Patriot League honoree. 

Rookie of the Year
Making their presence known from the get-go, first years Andrew Alekseyenko and Marina Taveras are Colgate's Rookies of the Year. 

Alekseyenko earned Patriot League Rookie of the Year honors after helping Colgate reach the conference semifinals for the ninth straight year. The Brookline, Massachusetts native averaged 14.8 points and 6.7 rebounds, leading the team with 29 double-figure games, including 18 straight to end the season. He scored a career-high 25 points at St. Bonaventure – one of three 20-point performances on the season. Andrew recorded four double-doubles, highlighted by a 16-point, 15-rebound effort at Loyola—the program's first 15-rebound game since 2020. An All-Patriot League Second Team pick, he was a five-time Rookie of the Week, tied for the most weekly honors in a single season in program history.

Taveras is having one of the top first-year campaigns in the history of Colgate Softball. She holds a .357 batting average with 56 hits including 13 home runs, seven doubles, 39 runs batted in, and 43 runs scored. The Fort Worth, Texas, native homered in her first career at-bat en route to being named Patriot League Rookie of the Week for the first of four times this season. Marina has already set first-year program records in RBIs and runs scored. Marina has been a guiding force in helping Colgate Softball break the Patriot League record for home runs in a season – in just 29 games.

Coach of the Year
Lyndse Hokanson guided Colgate women's soccer to a 6-2-1 Patriot League record, the program's most conference wins since 2018. The Raiders hosted their first Patriot League semifinal since 2011 behind six All-Patriot League selections – their most since 2018. In the heart of the league season, Colgate rattled off six wins out of seven which propelled the Raiders to the No. 2 seed in the Patriot League tournament. Coach Hokanson led the development of senior Ari Bezanson, who set a program record as she appeared in her 74th game and tallied 30 career goals, good for ninth-most in Colgate's all-time scoring history. Under Hokanson, four first-years recorded at least one goal, led by Lydia Thornton who finished with three goals and one assist.

Scholar-Athletes of the Year
Hunter Drouin, a member of the men's lacrosse team and a political science major, personifies a true scholar-athlete at Colgate. Hunter is a senior captain, two-time Patriot League First Team honoree, and two-time All-America honorable mention. He has recorded 23 goals and 17 assists for a total of 40 points this season. He ranks in the top 10 in the Patriot League averaging 3.64 points per game. He has an impressive .553 shot-on-goal percentage, while contributing across the field with 25 ground balls and five caused turnovers. His impact extends beyond the numbers, pairing on-field success with excellence in the classroom.

Meg Cole, a member of the women's lacrosse team and senior majoring in Psychological Science, truly exemplifies what it means to be a scholar-athlete at Colgate. As a defensive leader for the women's lacrosse program, Meg has appeared in 57 games, earning 54 starting assignments, and has been a reliable starter in every contest over the past three seasons. She has tallied 56 career ground balls and 30 caused turnovers while notching an assist. She helped guide the program back to the Patriot League Tournament in 2025 following its most successful season since 2018. Demonstrating excellence on and off the field.

John T. (Jack) Mitchell Award
Anna Keeling, started 13 games as a senior defender for the women's soccer program. Anna will conclude her Colgate career with 65 games played including 53 starting assignments. She scored one goal and added an assist with 34 shots on goal during her time in the maroon and white. Anna helped lead Colgate to a 6-2-1 Patriot League record, their most league wins since 2018, and secured a home semifinal match for the first time since 2011. In addition to her performance on the pitch, Anna is an Academic All-Patriot League honoree. 

Athletics Director Leadership Award
Rachael Martinez, a Peace & Conflict Studies and Political Science major, has gone above and beyond on the court for the volleyball program, in the classroom, and in the community during her time at Colgate. Martinez appeared in all but one match this season, making 27 appearances. As a libero, her primary role was digging, and she totaled 126 digs this season. In addition to her defensive impact, the senior recorded 17 points. Her offensive contributions included 16 service aces and her first career kill against Army. Martinez has also helped build Colgate volleyball's success over the years as a three-time Patriot League champion.

Matthew Szypula, a senior captain with the men's swim and dive program and double major studying computer science and economics, is coming off a sensational season. He posted three season-best times at the Patriot League Championships, highlighted by a top-25 finish in the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 4:01.20. Saving the best for Patriot League competition, Matthew won the 200-yard backstroke against Lafayette with a time of 1:57.48. He recorded multiple top-three finishes throughout the season, including a second-place result in the 200-yard backstroke against Holy Cross.

John LeFevre '41 Appreciation Awards
The John LeFevre '41 Appreciation Awards are presented annually to an internal and external candidate in honor of their tireless contributions to Colgate Athletics. This year's recipients were Steve Elfenbein, Alcohol and Drug Services Counselor/Coordinator, and the University Admissions team. 

Raider of the Year Award
The Raider of the Year Award is presented annually to the community fan with the greatest support and spirit for Colgate Athletics, and who leaves a lasting impression on the student-athletes he/she interacts with. This year's honorees were Jim and Joan Ford. 

Community Service Awards
The Community Service Award is presented to the programs most known for their contributions to the community and ability to have a positive impact on it. The Colgate men's soccer team and the field hockey program were recognized as Community Service Award winners for contributions on and off the field this year.