Bridgewater, NJ – Junior Ruben Van Gool of the Wagner College men's swimming & diving team and junior Julio Martinez of the Wagner College men's indoor track & field team have been named the Northeast Conference (NEC) Winter Scholar-Athletes of the Year for their respective sports, the league office announced on Monday.
This marks the first time Wagner has had multiple male student-athletes receive the conference's prestigious honor in the same academic year, with the list's first year dating back to 2003-04.
Van Gool becomes the first student-athlete in the history of the Wagner College men's swimming & diving program to earn NEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors throughout the five seasons that the conference has sponsored the sport.
The Madrid, Spain native played a pivotal role in Wagner's success throughout the 2024-25 season.
At the NEC Championship in the 1650-yard freestyle Ruben Van Gool finished third with a time of 16:12.77 and secured a top-four spot in the 200-yard freestyle with a finish time of 1:40.71. In the 800-yard freestyle relay, Van Gool was part of the team that claimed second place with a time of 6:41.86.
In the classroom, the Microbiology & Immunology major holds a 3.959 cumulative GPA, showcasing his commitment to academic excellence alongside his athletic achievements.
Martinez, also a native of Madrid, Spain, was one of the top performers for the Seahawks during the 2024-25 indoor track & field season. Martinez won his second consecutive NEC pole vault title, clearing 4.73 meters (15'7") to top the field once again.
In the classroom, Martinez is a Physics major with a 3.734 cumulative GPA.
For Wagner, Martinez is the second straight Seahawks to earn the NEC's Winter-Scholar Athlete of the Year after fellow teammate Ryan Lane was named the recipient of the 2023-24 NEC Winter-Scholar Of The Year.
Van Gool and Martinez's honors further reflect Wagner's commitment to excellence in both academics and athletics across multiple programs.
