Ilieva and Lanfear Named 2023-24 Binghamton University Athletes’ of the Year

VESTAL, N.Y. (WBNG) - Senior volleyball player Tsvetelina Ilieva and junior men’s swimmer Elijah Lanfear have been named the Binghamton University Female and Male Athletes of the Year for the 2023-24 school year. Illieva, who was 2023 America East Player of the Year for volleyball, was chosen for the second straight year. Lanfear, who earned America East All-Conference honors for men’s swimming and diving, was selected for the first time in his career.

Ilieva remains the only Binghamton athlete ever to receive an NCAA Division I All-Region or All-America accolade and was the first Bearcats athlete to ever repeat as the America East Player of the Year. Ilieva ranked first in the America East and 25th in the country with 4.22 kills per set. as well as first in the conference and 28th in the country with 4.83 points per set.

On the other side, Lanfear led the men’s swimming and diving team to its second America East championship in four years. His first-place time of 19.68 seconds in the 50 free broke both the Binghamton and America East Meet records. Lanfear was also victorious in 14 individual events and swam on eight first-place relay teams during the regular season while guiding the Bearcats to five wins in six dual meets.

Ilieva is one of eight volleyball players to have been named Binghamton Female Athlete of the Year, whereas Lanfear was the first swimmer to be named the Binghamton Male Athlete of the Year since David Homes was selected in in 2006.