Softball pitcher/utility player Emma Tansky '25 (Collegeville, Pa./Episcopal School) and men's hockey defenseman James Philpott '25 (Calgary, Alberta/Centennial HS) were honored as Hamilton College's top athletes from the Class of 2025 at the Jack B. Riffle Celebration for senior varsity athletes on Tuesday, May 20.
 
The Riffle Awards have been presented annually since 1987 to the top male and female athlete in Hamilton's senior class. Riffle graduated from Hamilton in 1950 and passed away on Dec. 13, 1986. A group of Riffle's friends and associates established a memorial fund in his name because of his deep interest in Hamilton athletics.
 
Tansky is the first Riffle winner from the softball team since Olivia Gozdz '16 in 2016. Tansky was a four-time all-region selection and earned all-NESCAC honors twice, including a first team nod this spring. She holds program records for most stolen bases in a season and career, and ranks second all-time in hits and runs scored. Tansky ended her career with an impressive .408 batting average and played a key role in leading Hamilton to a NESCAC postseason appearance in 2024.
 
Philpott is the first Riffle winner from the men's hockey team since Evan Buitenhuis '18 in 2018. A two-time all-American and one of just three players in program history with multiple all-America honors, he was named to the first team in 2025. Philpott was a three-time all-NESCAC selection, including first team honors in 2024 and 2025. In his final season, he helped lead the Continentals to a program-record 21 wins, their first NESCAC title, an NCAA championship appearance, and a No. 8 national ranking. Philpott totaled 70 points on 13 goals and 57 assists in 99 career games, as Hamilton went 62-35-5 and won at least one postseason game in three of his four seasons.

Sylvie Najarian '25 (Woodcliff Lake, N.J./Pascack Hills HS) and Connor Griff '25 (Purchase, N.Y./Harrison HS) received the Jean-Marius Gelas Memorial Awards. The Gelas Awards are presented annually to a male and female senior student-athlete who has displayed outstanding development in sportsmanship, leadership, character and athletic ability during their college years.
 
Najarian is the first women's cross country and track and field athlete to receive the Gelas Award. A two-time NCAA championship qualifier in cross country, she earned all-region honors in both 2023 and 2024. Najarian served as team captain for both the women's cross country and track and field teams during her senior year and was named to the 2025 NESCAC Spring All-Sportsmanship Team. She was a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and was an Adirondack Adventure leader for two years. Najarian was recognized twice by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association as an NCAA Division III All-Academic honoree for cross country.
 
Griff is the first men's tennis athlete to receive the Gelas Award. A two-year team captain, he helped lead the Continentals to one of their best seasons in team history in 2024–25 with a 16-5 overall record that included a 6-4 mark in NESCAC play, their first conference championship quarterfinal appearance, and a No. 21 national ranking. He earned 2025 all-America honors by winning a first-round doubles match at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Cup and also competed in the (ITA) singles tournament. Griff reached the finals in both singles and doubles at the 2024 ITA Northeast Regional Championships in September and entered the spring ranked 15th in singles and 13th in doubles. A two-time all-NESCAC first team selection for singles, he also played in the singles draw of the 2023 NCAA championships. He tied the team record for most career singles wins and set the record for career doubles victories, and was named a 2024 ITA Division III Scholar-Athlete.
 
"He has achieved these accomplishments while being plagued with chronic knee injuries that created considerable obstacles for him over his four years," Head Coach Peter Arsenault said. "Despite pain and frustrations with his knees, he has been the heart and soul of this team, both on the court and off. Our team has been inspired by his willingness to fight through adversity and pain. Whether he won or lost, his efforts to compete for the team provided inspiration to his teammates. His teammates respect his attitude and work ethic immensely, and many of our recruits have come, in part, to play alongside him."
 
Katt Withers '25 (Arlington, Va./Richwoods HS [Ill.]) and Hank Morgan '25 (Caldwell, N.J./Berkshire School [Mass.]) received the Milton H. Jannone Awards. The Jannone Awards have been presented annually since 2009 to a male and female senior athlete who exhibit outstanding athleticism, leadership and academic accomplishment.
 
Withers is the first women's swimming and diving athlete to receive the Jannone Award. A consistent contributor at the NESCAC championships, she scored in both individual and relay events throughout her collegiate career and is on Hamilton's all-time top 10 list in the 50-yard butterfly. Withers was a three-time NESCAC winter all-academic team honoree and was selected for the 2022 NESCAC Winter All-Sportsmanship Team. Beyond the pool, she served as the softball team manager and will continue her involvement in swimming as a graduate assistant coach at Smith College in the fall.
 
Morgan is the first men's basketball athlete to receive the Jannone Award. A two-time team captain, he was named a 2025 National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) first team all-American and D3hoops.com second team all-American. Morgan was voted the NABC District 1, D3hoops.com Region 1 and NESCAC Player of the Year, and he was selected to play in the NABC College All-Star Game. He was a two-time all-NESCAC first team selection and made the D3hoops.com all-region team twice, including the first team in his final season. Morgan was one of 10 national finalists for the Jostens Trophy, which recognizes excellence in basketball, academics, and community service. Off the court, he was a three-time NESCAC winter all-academic team honoree, earned a spot on the 2023–24 NABC Honors Court, and was named to the 2022–23 Academic All-District Team by the College Sports Communicators. Morgan finished his career ranked ninth in team history in scoring and sixth in three-pointers made, and he helped lead the Continentals to two 20-win seasons, two NCAA tournament appearances, and the 2023 NESCAC title.