Ithaca, N.Y. -- Seniors Stephanie Cleary (Tappan Zee/Tappan) and Jeff Welch (Ithaca/Ithaca) were named female and male senior athlete of the year, respectively, at the Ithaca College annual awards luncheon on May 9. Cleary, the school's first women's basketball all-American, set career records for points and steals. Welch, a captain of both the football and men's lacrosse teams, earned all-conference honors in both sports.

      Cleary received the Iris Carnell Senior Athlete of the Year Award, named for the former coach and administrator at Ithaca. She earned second-team all-America honors from D3hoops.com, becoming the first Bomber women's basketball player to earn all-America honors in 39 years. A four-time Empire 8 all-star, Cleary is Ithaca's career leader in points (1,866), three-point baskets (194), steals (437) and free throws (356). She averaged 22.9 points and 4.7 steals per game as a senior, ranking second in the nation in both categories. She helped Ithaca to four appearances in the NCAA playoffs, including three trips to the second round.

      Welch was presented with the Ben Light Senior Athlete of the Year Award, named after another former Ithaca coach and administrator. He is the football program's fourth-leading career receiver (103 catches), Welch was a two-time Empire 8 all-star and Ithaca's leading pass-catcher as a junior and senior. A two-year captain of the lacrosse team, he earned all-conference honors this spring after scoring a career-high 16 points as a midfielder.

         Betty Lacey Basketball Award (given to the senior female who has participated in varsity basketball and shown outstanding leadership ability and scholarly achievements): Alex Ivansheck (Salem/Norwich, Conn.).