KEUKA PARK, N.Y. — Keuka College Men's Basketball's Ty LaBarge was awarded the Empire 8 Torchbearer Award during the awards ceremony on Saturday following Keuka's Empire 8 Championship victory over SUNY Brockport.

Patterned after the NCAA Elite 90 award program, the Empire 8 Torchbearer Award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average (GPA) participating in the championship game for each E8 sport. Founded in 2021, LaBarge joins Sydney Haust '25 from the Women's Volleyball team as the only Wolves to earn the honor.

Ty LaBarge has been an important role player for the Wolves during their championship run. He has played in 26 games on the season, averaging 10 minutes a game, while setting new career highs in points and rebounds. LaBarge set a career high with 11 points and five assists in Keuka's final regular season game at Elmira College. Earlier in the season, he collected a personal-best nine rebounds in a win over SUNY Morrisville.

A management major with a concentration in sports management, LaBarge has posted a 3.87 cumulative grade point average over his time at Keuka College. He has earned Empire 8 President's List four times over his career.

To be eligible for the Empire 8 Torchbearer Award, a student-athlete must be a junior or senior and in at least their second season of competition with their current team. Graduate students are not eligible.

LaBarge and the Wolves will look to continue their history-making season this weekend as Keuka College plays in the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament for the first time in program history. The Wolves will travel to Hartford, Conn. to take on defending national champion and top-ranked Trinity College on Friday night.