Harper named President's Cup recipient
SANBORN, NY — Sophomore and baseball standout Dalton Harper was named the 2026 SUNY Niagara President’s Cup recipient. The announcement was made on Thursday.
The most distinguished award in SUNY Niagara intercollegiate athletics, the President’s Cup has been given to a sophomore since 1964, the school’s second year of existence. To be eligible, a sophomore had to be enrolled at SUNY Niagara for at least three full-time semesters, complete 45 hours or more with a 3.0 GPA, and be a vital member of the team she competed on for two seasons.
The Cheektowaga resident played a significant role for the Thunderwolves this season, culminating in a new single-season best 55-6 record and their first NJCAA Division III World Series championship in their 59-year history. Harper finished with a staggering .621 batting average (23-of-37), drilled three home runs, drove in 23 runs and scored an additional 16 times through SUNY Niagara's 4-0 finish in Johnson City, Tennessee.
In 59 games this season, Harper finished in the top 10 of five different NJCAA Division III offensive categories. Harper was tied for first in hits (105), second in batting average (.556), fourth in runs batted in (91), tied for fourth in home runs (17), and eighth in runs scored (85).
Primarily the No. 3 batter this season, Harper led SUNY Niagara in batting average, home runs, RBI and runs scored. Harper also received numerous postseason accolades, including being named the Most Valuable Player of the NJCAA Division III World Series and Region III Player and Defensive Player of the Year.
Harper was also named to the NJCAA Division III All-American first team this season after earning a second-team selection last season. Harper joins Vincent Chiarenza (2018, 2019) as the only two-time All-American in Thunderwolves baseball history since Steve Strack was the inaugural nominee in 1992.
In 108 games, Harper finished as SUNY Niagara’s new leader in numerous categories in the modern era (since 2007). Harper posted 172 career hits, drove in 129 RBI and passed former teammate and the 2025 President’s Cup recipient, Gavyn Boyle, in career home runs with 20.
Harper finished with a 3.93 GPA and graduated with an associate’s degree in sports management. Harper plans to continue his academic and athletic career at NCAA Division I Penn State University.
SUNY Niagara/ Niagara County Community College President’s Cup History:
1964 Ben Dragon
1965 Robert Blake
1966 Robert Blake
1967 Carl Albion
1968 Dave Schotz
1969 Jim Emert
1970 N/A
1971 N/A
1972 Glenn Orser
1973 Peter Zaccarella
1974 Tim Conway
1975 Paul Churder
1976 Fred McBride
1977 Douglas Zastrow
1978 N/A
1979 John DeLorenzo, Wrestling
1980 Gail Wactawski, Women’s Volleyball
1981 Guy Burgstahler
1982 Patricia Hassler, Softball
1983 James Korlczyk, Wrestling
1984 Jane Milleville, Women’s Volleyball
1985 Daniel Richbart, Men’s Bowling
1986 Charles Flacco, Men’s Bowling
1987 Karen Emerick, Softball
1988 Michael Bedford, Men’s Bowling
1989 N/A
1990 Donna Hoak, Softball
1991 Coty Sexton, Men’s Soccer
1992 Debbie Jordan, Women’s Bowling
1993 Ronald Long, Wrestling
1994 Amy Stutz, Women’s Volleyball
1995 Cindy Healey, Women’s Soccer
1996 Tony Gugliuzza, Wrestling & Baseball
1997 Christopher Arber, Men’s Soccer
1998 Michelle Milleville, Women’s Baseball
1999 Sheri Brooks, Women’s Soccer, Women’s Basketball & Softball
2000 Eric Stein, Baseball
2001 Chris Fusco, Baseball
2002 Robin Simonson, Women’s Volleyball
2003 Michelle Capen, Women’s Soccer, Women’s Basketball & Softball
2004 Robert Lucciano, Wrestling
2005 Kyle Schmelzle, Wrestling
2006 Bethany Coutts, Women’s Soccer
2007 Erin Whitehead, Women’s Basketball & Softball
2008 Dale DeBacco, Wrestling & Men’s Golf
2009 Sean Jamieson, Baseball
2010 Kathie Kreppenneck, Women’s Volleyball
2011 Mark Manganaro, Wrestling
2012 Jessica Crooks, Women’s Volleyball
2013 Kristine Ripson, Women’s Volleyball & Women’s Basketball
2014 Delaney Laper, Women’s Volleyball
2015 William Lawton, Men’s Golf
2016 Zach Colgan, Wrestling
2017 Kelsi Palistrant, Volleyball & Softball
2018 Troy Keller, Wrestling
2019 Vincent Chiarenza, Baseball
2020 Paige Emborsky, Women’s Basketball
2021 Ryan Peterson, Baseball
2022 Gabrielle McDuffie, Women’s Basketball
2023 Alex Minnehan, Baseball
2024 Matthew Procopio, Baseball
2025 Gavyn Boyle, Baseball
2026 Dalton Harper, Baseball