GNAC Announces Athlete of the Year Finalists For Men's Sports

July 2, 2025

WINTHROP, Mass. – Eight Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Men’s student-athletes were nominated finalists for the 2024-25 GNAC Athlete of the Year award for Men’s sports.

The GNAC Athlete of the Year award is modeled after the NCAA Woman of the Year award. It recognizes graduating student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.

Listed below are the eight nominees:

EJ Gonzalez, Albertus Magnus
George Chaya Jr., Elms
Tim Callahan, Lasell
Eddie Kaftan, Mitchell
Will Thompson, Norwich
Christopher Margiatto, Regis
Dylan Dickey, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Braeden Laframboise, University of Saint Joseph (Conn.)

The GNAC Athlete of the Year for Men’s sports will be announced on Wednesday, July 16th. Read more about the nominees below.

ABOUT THE NOMINEES

EJ Gonzalez | Albertus Magnus | Men's Soccer

Major: Psychology

Gonzalez graduated from Albertus Magnus with a 3.94 GPA in Psychology, earning spots on both the GNAC All-Academic and College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District teams. His academic efforts led him to being named to the GNAC All-Academic Team and the CSC Academic All-District Team. On the field, he earned two All-Conference honors and was a member of the all-rookie team early on in his collegiate career.

George Chaya Jr. | Elms | Baseball

Major: Accounting

Chaya Jr. graduated from Elms with a 3.80 GPA, collecting a degree in Accounting in the process while being a member of the GNAC All-Academic Team three times in his career. A 2023 First-Team All-GNAC selection, he ranks second in the program's history in stolen bases all-time. George was also a member of the Honors Society Chi Alpha Sigma, Sigma Beta Delta, and a four year Dean’s List recipient.

Tim Callahan | Lasell | Baseball

Major: Data Analytics

Callahan graduated from Lasell with a a 3.18 GPA, majoring in Data Analytics. A member of the Baseball team, Callahan was a three-time GNAC All-Conference member, including being the Player of the Year recipient this past spring. He is also a two-time American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/D3Baseball.com All-Region member as well. Callahan etched his named in the program's record books as he holds the top spot in several single-season and career marks including stolen bases, most hits, runs scored, and on-base percentage. On campus, he was a Lasell Baseball Prospect Clinics Volunteer, member of the Athletics Game Staff, open house/ move-in volunteer, and United Parish of Auburndale Volunteer.

Eddie Kaftan | Mitchell | Baseball

Major: Sports Management

Kaftan graduated from Mitchell with a 3.31 GPA, majoring in Sports Management and making the GNAC All-Academic Team this past year. Kaftan had a strong year for Mitchell, being named to not only the GNAC All-Conference team but making the D3Baseball/ABCA All-Region team this year as well. He concludes his career fourth in the program's history in wins and sixth in strikeouts. Outside of campus, Kaftan was a baseball summer camp coach, coach for a youth baseball team, and was an umpire in a youth league as well.

Will Thompson | Norwich | Men's Swimming and Diving

Major: Criminal Justice

Thompson graduated from Norwich with a 3.36 GPA and was a two-time selection to the GNAC All-Academic Team. One of the most decorated swimmers in Norwich University history, Thompson was named the 2023-24 GNAC Swimmer of the Year and compiled an astounding 22 conference championships across his four-year career, including nine individual titles and 13 as part of relay teams. He was a 27-time GNAC All-Conference honoree, earning multiple honors each season from 2021 through 2025. Thompson holds three individual program records at Norwich in the 50-yard, 100-yard, and 200-yard breaststroke events. He is also a member of four program-record-holding relay squads in the 200 and 400 freestyle relays and the 200 and 400 medley relays. His impact extended to the conference record books as well, setting GNAC records in the 50-yard breaststroke, the 400 freestyle relay, and the 200 medley relay. Thompson served with distinction in the Norwich University Corps of Cadets throughout his undergraduate career, taking on key leadership roles in the Regimental Guard Mount Section. As a senior, he held the position of Officer in Charge of the section and in the previous academic year as a junior, he served as the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of the same section.

Christopher Margiatto | Regis | Men's Cross-Country/Track and Field

Major: Sport Management Minor: Communications

Burke graduated Regis with a 3.72 GPA, majoring in Sport Management and Humanities while earning CSC Academic All-District Team honors twice and GNAC All-Academic honors three times. Margiatto was an eight-time All-Conference member and set program records for Regis in Indoor 4x400, Outdoor 4x800, Distance Medley Relay and Sprint Medley Relay. Margiatto interned in the Rivers School and the University of Hartford's Athletic Departments and was also a member of Regis' game operations staff and is a volunteer with Boston Athletic Associations.

Dylan Dickey | Saint Joseph's (Maine) | Men's Track and Field/Men's Soccer

Major: Business and Sports Management

Dickey graduated from Saint Joseph's College of Maine with a 3.67 GPA, majoring in Business and Sports Management, earning Magna Cum Laude honors in the process and was also a three-time GNAC All-Academic member and two-time CSC Academic All-District member. Dickey was a dual-sport athlete for the Monks, competing in both Track & Field and Soccer as he finished his career a three-time All-Conference member in Track & Field and was a fourth-place finisher at the 2024 New England DIII Championships in the Javelin competition. The school record holder in Javelin and Discus, Dickey was instrumental in helping the Monks win three straight track and field titles in both indoor and outdoor seasons. On campus, he was a sports information intern this past year in the Monks' Athletic Communications Department.

Braeden Laframboise | University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) | Cross Country

Major: Nursing

Laframboise graduated from the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) with a 3.27 GPA, earning his degree in Nursing and a spot on this year's GNAC All-Academic team. He was a three-time First Team All-GNAC member in his career and is USJ's school record holder in the 5K and 8K. In the community, Laframboise volunteered at the Hands on Hartford Food Kitchen.

ABOUT THE GREAT NORTHEAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 14 member institutions and over 4000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 20 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.

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