LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Rider University women's volleyball senior Kiannisha Santiago (San Juan, PR/Hudson Catholic (NJ)) and wrestling graduate student Tyler Klinsky (Middletown, NJ/Middletown North) have been honored as the 2025-26 Rider University Clair Bee Athletes of the Year. Santiago was named MAAC Player of the Year on her way to earning AVCA All-America Honorable Mention, leading the Broncs to the MAAC Championship Match. Klinsky earned NCAA All-America honors at 125 pounds, finishing eighth at the NCAA Championships, also being named the MAC Wrestler of the Year.

Santiago was dominant in her senior season, finishing second in the conference at 3.92 kills per set. At Manhattan, Santiago recorded her 1,000^th career kill, just the 10^th Bronc in program history to reach the milestone. A two-time MAAC Player of the Week, and the MAAC Player of the Year, she led all players in conference play, averaging 4.36 kills per set against league opponents. Santiago had 20 matches with double-digit kills including five double-doubles. The senior had 11 matches this season hitting over .300 and hit .271 on the season. She is the first volleyball player for the Broncs to earn All-America honors since Morgan Romano in the 2020-21 season. She finished her Rider career with 1,143 career kills, graduating fifth in program history. Her 435 kills this season rank seventh in a single season in program history. Her 3.09 career kills per set are fifth in program history and her 3.92 kills per set this season rank eighth.

Klinsky closed out his final campaign with a 30-6 overall record, including a perfect 18-0 mark in dual meets. He captured the 125-pound title at the MAC Championships, bonus-pointing his way through the bracket while earning the tournament's Most Outstanding Wrestler honors. At the NCAA Championships, Klinsky went 4-3, battling through a loaded consolation bracket to secure All-American status. His run featured bonus-point victories over No. 22 Davis Motyka (Penn), No. 21 Conrad Hendriksen (Oklahoma), a pin of No. 3 Nic Bouzakis (Ohio State), and a decisive win over No. 8 Dean Peterson (Iowa) in the blood round to clinch an eighth-place finish, the first All-American honor of his career. He also became Rider Wrestling's 22^nd All-American and the 11^th in the last 12 seasons.