Narrowing this list down to just five candidates was extremely difficult. This season saw some of the best male athlete performances both individually and team-wise. After some debate our staff decided on five finalists.

Brendon Hitchcock, baseball ‘ With their recent struggles at first base, the Yankees might want to give the senior first baseman from Wyalusing Valley (Pa.) High School a call. He leads the America East by 41 points with a .416 batting average. Batting third in one of the most explosive lineups in the AE, Hitchcock adds crucial runs and RBIs (third in the AE) to the Bearcats on their quest for a title.

David Holmes, swimming ‘ A senior from Doncaster, England, Holmes was the top swimmer on a team that finished 13th in the nation among mid-majors. To top that off, Holmes became the first male swimmer not just in BU history, but in America East history to qualify for the NCAA championship, where he took home three top-30 finishes. He was also named top swimmer at both the AE championships and the ECAC championships.

Josh Patterson, wrestling ‘ Already Pipe Dream’s Male Rookie of the Year, Patterson helped revive a struggling wrestling team that had won zero games the year before and featured a new coach and many new players. Patterson helped turn the team around, placing third at the Colonial Athletic Association Championships, being named to the CAA All-Rookie team, and qualifying for the NCAA championships as a wild card.

Rory Quiller, track and field ‘ The West Point, N.Y., native isn’t just the best pole vaulter in Binghamton, the America East, or the entire East Coast for that matter. Quiller showed that he is one of the best pole vaulters in the nation when he placed second at the NCAA championships in March. The graduating senior has also been named America East field athlete of the meet several times, in addition to winning the AE Championship in both the indoor and outdoor track seasons.

Jeff Wolniewicz, golf ‘ As the team’s No. 1 and senior co-captain, Wolniewicz, of West Seneca, N.Y., has defined Binghamton golf for the past four seasons. When BU won the Dartmouth Invitational in September, it was Wolniewicz leading the charge with a second place individual effort. Even when the team struggled he was there to pick them up, evidenced by his team-best finish at the Lacrosse Home Invitational in March, where the team as a whole struggled thanks to inclement weather.