ROCHESTER, NY – On Tuesday the Empire 8 Conference announced its end of the year awards for Men's Tennis, with Max Funiciello and Matthew Herb earning recognition.

Funciello was tabbed Second Team Singles for the West Division after going 2-5 in the first singles slot. He had a 6-4, 6-3 win against Oswego the first time around and a 3-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-6) victory over Houghton on 4/24. This is the third time in his career that Funiciello has picked up singles honors, being first team in 2024-25 and in 2022-23. He was also a 3x all-conference selection in doubles, including being named Doubles Team of the Year in 2024-25 with his partner Griffin Bond.

Herb is Nazareth's representative on the Tomorrow's Leader's Team. One member of each team was named that institution's representative on the 2025-26 Men's Tennis Tomorrow's Leaders Team. This team honors a student-athlete who has emerged as a leader not only on the field of play, but in the classroom and in the community. In addition, they "compete with honor and integrity" and have distinguished themselves and consistently exhibit the critical traits as outstanding sportsmen.

2026 Empire 8 Men's Tennis All-Conference Selections
 
Player of the Year: Tyler Hernandez, Jr., St. John Fisher
Doubles Team of the Year: Tyler Hernandez, Jr./Will Chubb, Sr., St. John Fisher  
Rookie of the Year: Andre Lopez Jimenez, Fr., Alfred
Coaching Staff of the Year: St. John Fisher, led by head coach Jason Byam
 
Empire 8 First Team – Singles – EAST DIVISION
Luke Moloney, Fr., SUNY Delhi
Nicholas VanHouten, Sr., SUNY Delhi
Terrance Bayly-Henshaw, Jr., Norwich
Jaxson Redmond, So., Norwich
Dominic Clifford, So., Thomas
Thai Nguyen, Fr., Thomas 
 
Empire 8 First Team – Doubles – EAST DIVISION
Gavin Bonczkowski, Sr./Benjamin Andersen, Sr., SUNY Delhi
Terrance Bayly-Henshaw, Jr./ Jaxson Redmond, Jr., Norwich
Thai Nguyen, Fr./Casey Duncan, So., Thomas
 
Empire 8 First Team – Singles – WEST DIVISION
Ricardo Alvarez Janik, So., Alfred 
Breece Erickson, Jr., Alfred
Andre Lopez Jimenez, Fr., Alfred
Rune Camps, Fr., Houghton ^
Cole Lyons, Fr., SUNY Oswego
Sebastian Dix, Fr., St. John Fisher ^
Tyler Hernandez, Jr., St. John Fisher 
 
^ Tie for the final E8 First Team West Division selection; will be five Second Team selections
 
Empire 8 First Team – Doubles – WEST DIVISION
Andre Lopez Jimenez, Fr./Breece Erickson, Jr., Alfred
Ricardo Alvarez Janik, So./Anlun Zwerver, Gr., Alfred
Tyler Hernandez, Jr./Will Chubb, Sr., St. John Fisher 
 
Empire 8 Second Team – Singles – EAST DIVISION
Devin Guerreri, Jr., SUNY Delhi
Thomas Nicol, Sr., Lesley 
Calvin Cutler, Jr., Thomas
Camden Herrick, So., Thomas
David Gratton, Sr., Vermont State Lyndon
Wesley McIntyre, Jr., Vermont State Lyndon
 
Empire 8 Second Team – Doubles – EAST DIVISION
Nolan Kleinsasser, Jr./Devin Guerreri, Jr., SUNY Delhi
Steven Hartigan, So./Juan Gonzalas Torres, Fr., Norwich
Camden Herrick, So./Dominic Clifford, So., Thomas
 
Empire 8 Second Team – Singles – WEST DIVISION
Anlun Zwerver, Gr., Alfred
Max Funiciello, Sr., Nazareth 
Sean Brown, Sr., St. John Fisher
Will Chubb, Sr., St. John Fisher
Matt Lincoln, Fr., St. John Fisher
 
Empire 8 Second Team – Doubles – WEST DIVISION
Preston Tobolski, Jr./Jason Murphy, Jr., Houghton
Jose Miguel Garcia Moreta, So./Connor Tutor, Fr., SUNY Oswego
Sebastian Dix, Fr./Matt Lincoln, Fr., St. John Fisher
 
2026 Empire 8 Men's Tennis Tomorrow's Leaders Team
Matthew Bittel, Sr., Alfred
Benjamin Andersen, Sr., SUNY Delhi
Jason Murphy, Jr., Houghton
Thomas Nicol, Sr., Lesley
Matthew Herb, Fr., Nazareth
Terrance Bayly-Henshaw, Jr., Norwich
Deamontay Attaway, Fr., SUNY Oswego
Will Chubb, Sr., St. John Fisher
Nick Magiera, Gr., Thomas
Adiance Cheromiah, So., Vermont State Johnson
Bryan Nazario, Jr., Vermont State Lyndon