Graham named Male Athlete of the Year

** PHOTO CREDIT: SUNY NIAGARA ATHLETICS **

SANBORN, NY — Golf standout Finn Graham (Clarence, N.Y.) has been named the 2025-26 SUNY Niagara Male Athlete of the Year. The announcement was made by the campus’ athletic department Wednesday.

The sophomore and Clarence resident capped off his career as he placed tied for 10th with a four-day score of 12-over par 300 at the NJCAA Division III national championships June 5 in Canandaigua. As a result, Graham became the Thunderwolves’ ninth All-American since 2017 and posted the program’s second all-time lowest four-round score at nationals behind Sean Barrett’s 294 in 2023.

Before nationals, Graham medaled at five different events this season after only doing so once as a freshman (Adirondack Invitational, April 19, 2025). Graham shot 1-over 72 at the Tompkins Cortland Invitational on April 10; 2-under 68 at the Hudson Valley Invitational on April 17; 4-under 68 at the Jefferson Invitational on May 1; 1-over 73 at the Herkimer Invitational on May 2; and had the lowest Region III tournament score in program history at 2-over 148 on May 11.

(SUNY Niagara Athletics)

Graham was ahead of the field by at least three strokes in all five of his wins. His largest lead was his five-stroke finish in the Hudson Valley Invitational. His scores of 4-under 68 at both the Hudson Valley and Jefferson Invitationals broke SUNY Niagara’s record for lowest individual tournament scores.

Graham also posted the program’s new lowest tournament score at the Region III championships with his score of 148, making him SUNY Niagara’s sixth all-time champion since 1979 and the fourth since 2021. Graham also helped the Thunderwolves win the regional title for a third consecutive year, their fifth since 2019 and seventh overall since 1968, plus a 6-3 record in the regular season.  

(SUNY Niagara Athletics)

Graham was later one of SUNY Niagara golfers named to the NJCAA all-Region III team. His scoring average of 75.3 was also a region best. 

In 21 career appearances (10 in 2026), Graham finished in the top-10 17 times, including 14 top-five efforts. Graham was also the only three-time NJCAA Region III Athlete of the Week recipient in golf this season (April 6, April 13, April 27). 

Additional nominees for the 2025-26 Male Athlete of the Year award were club soccer player Gianfranco Centeno (Lima, Peru), wrestler Aidan Gillings (Newfane, N.Y.), baseball player Dalton Harper (Cheektowaga, N.Y.) and basketball player Chioke Marshall (Queens, N.Y.).