General | 9/8/2026 1:00:00 PM
PITTSFORD, N.Y. – Eight St. John Fisher University student-athletes have earned weekly honors from the Empire 8 Conference, the league office announced on Tuesday afternoon.
FOOTBALL
Ryan Whitney (Sr., QB) – Empire 8 Co-Offensive Player of the Week
Whitney completed 60.9% of his passes (14-of-23) for 320 yards and a career-high four touchdown passes, including a 45-yarder to Mykel Whyte and a 72-yarder to Gavin Horton, as St. John Fisher routed FDU Florham, 38-8, on Saturday at Growney Stadium. He added 66 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.
Jack Bierman (Jr., LB) – Empire 8 Co-Defensive Player of the Week
Bierman set career highs in tackles (10), tackles for a loss (4) and sacks (2) in the season-opening drubbing of the Devils at Growney Stadium. He recorded both sacks on fourth-down plays inside St. John Fisher territory in the first half, and the Cardinals' offense cashed in for touchdowns after each.
MEN'S GOLF
Ryan Jones (Jr.) – Empire 8 Player of the Week
A transfer from Rider, Jones won the St. John Fisher Fall Invite over the weekend, shooting a 73 in both rounds to finish at 146 strokes. The Cardinals won the tournament as a team over Keuka and SUNY ESF.
WOMEN'S GOLF
Sarah Burgess (Sr.) – Empire 8 Co-Player of the Week
Burgess carded an 82 in both rounds of the St. John Fisher Fall Tournament to finish tied for first place with teammate Emma Sweazy at 164 strokes.
Emma Sweazy (So.) – Empire 8 Co-Player of the Week
Sweazy shot an 80 on Sunday and an 82 on Monday to finish as the co-champion of the St. John Fisher Fall Tournament with teammate Sarah Burgess.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Emily Woolingham (Jr., F) – Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Week
Woolingham, the reigning Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year, recorded nine points on four goals and two assists as St. John Fisher opened the 2026 season with wins over Clarkson and Neumann last week. She scored twice in each game, becoming the first Fisher player to score four goals in the first two games of a season since Carli Kovarik did so in 2021. Additionally, Woolingham is the first Cardinal to open a season with back-to-back multi-goal performances since at least 2000.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Lily Miller (Sr.) and Emily Mihajlovic (So.) – Empire 8 Doubles Team of the Week
Miller and Mihajlovic, in their first match as partners, topped Elise Beauharnois and Autumn Millington in second doubles, 7-5. The Cardinals claimed the doubles point and won four of the six singles matches in the 5-2 dual victory, which ended Hartwick's 33-match winning streak in regular-season Empire 8 Conference duals. Winners of three of the last four conference championships, Hartwick had not lost an E8 regular-season contest since Sept. 18, 2021.
