Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Brouwer, Ampomah grab top awards at RCA's
4/28/2016 9:30:00 PM | General
Boles honored with Make A Difference Award
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Soccer's Kelsey Brouwer and track's John Ampomah were the big winners at the Fifth Annual Raiders Choice Awards on Thursday night at Tucker Theatre. The year-end "Academy Awards"-style show highlighted all the academic and athletic accomplishments of the Blue Raider student-athletes in their third year of competition in Conference USA.
Brouwer and Ampomah were honored with the True Blue President's Award, which is the highest honor bestowed upon a current MT student-athlete who epitomizes all that is good in intercollegiate athletics. Presented annually to one male and one female senior student-athlete, the President's Award recognizes outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments, University/community service and leadership.
Brouwer and Ampomah both have excelled in the classroom. Brouwer has already earned her degree in business management with a 3.92 GPA, while Ampomah owns a 3.20 in criminal justice.
"This is always the highlight of the year when we can recognize the accomplishments of our student-athletes both in the classroom and in their respective sport," said Director of Athletics Chris Massaro. "This was another special night and I want to thank everyone involved. We have had such an incredible year with a number of outstanding team and individual accomplishments and we can't wait to do it again next year."
Academically, the Student-Athlete Enhancement Center award went to Ayed Zatar Cordero (men's tennis) and Hannah Maina (cross country/track). The highest team GPA award was won by men's tennis for spring 2015 and women's tennis for the fall.
In the individual categories, track standout Eliud Rutto was voted the Male Athlete of the Year while women's basketball star Brea Edwards was honored as the Female Athlete of the Year.
The Male and Female Newcomer of the Year awards went to Alex Johnson of women's basketball and football's Brent Stockstill. Johnson was tabbed the C-USA Freshman of the Year and was a five-time C-USA Freshman of the Week winner. Stockstill, a freshman All-American and 4,000-yard passer, also earned C-USA Freshman of the Year honors.
The Breakout Performer of the Year awards went to Hanley Long (women's golf) and Richie James (football). Long finished second in the C-USA Championship to help MT to a second straight conference title and another NCAA Regional appearance. James, a consensus first team freshman All-American, broke numerous records with his 108 receptions for 1,346 yards.
Middle Tennessee football graduate assistant Tyler Boles was awarded the Make a Difference Award for reaching out to nine-year old Colton Sheets and letting him and his family come to practice and a game. Sheets was diagnosed with leukemia which he has battled most of his life. Boles overheard a conversation at the local Buffalo Wild Wings and that led to the practice and meeting the staff and players.
Fans determined the winners of the Play of the Year, Performance of the Year, and the Game/Event of the Year by voting on GoBlueRaiders.com. The Play of the Year was soccer player Grace Summers' 78th minute goal against No. 4 seeded Rice in the C-USA Championship quarterfinals to help MT to a 1-0 victory. Basketball's Reggie Upshaw won the Performance of the Year award after tallying 21 points, four rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal to lead MT over No. 2 ranked Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament. The Game/Event of the Year was the Blue Raider men's basketball upset over Michigan State in St. Louis during the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Director's Cup Award was won by men's tennis for 4,864.5 hours of service. This award was created to recognize the student-athletes who go above and beyond and who demonstrate an unselfish attitude toward their team, family, and community. The team who has earned the most points throughout the year in the following areas - academic achievement, community outreach, and personal development, take home this prestigious award.
Numerous athletes were also recognized for their academic honors and All-American accolades.
2016 RAIDERS CHOICE AWARDS WINNERS
PRESIDENTS AWARD (MALE): John Ampomah, track
PRESIDENTS AWARD (FEMALE): Kelsey Brouwer, soccer
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Eliud Rutto, track
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Brea Edwards, women's basketball
MALE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Brent Stockstill, football
FEMALE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Alex Johnson, women's basketball
FEMALE BREAKOUT PERFORMER OF THE YEAR: Hanley Long, women's golf
MALE BREAKOUT PERFORMER OF THE YEAR: Richie James, football
ALL-AMERICANS: Richie James – football (Freshman All-American), Brent Stockstill – football (Freshman All-American), John Ampomah – track (First Team), Atsu Nyamadi – track (Second Team), Vincent Okot – track (Second Team), Eliud Rutto – track (First Team)
SAEC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Male: Ayed Zatar Cordero – men's tennis; Hannah Maina, track
MAKE A DIFFERENCE AWARD: Tyler Boles, football
DIRECTOR'S CUP: Men's Tennis
TEAM GPA AWARD/FALL 2015: Women's Tennis
TEAM GPA AWARD/SPRING 2015: Men's Tennis
GAME/EVENT OF THE YEAR: Men's Basketball's upset over No. 2 Michigan State
PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR: Basketball's Reggie Upshaw tallied 21 points, four rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal to lead MT over No. 2 ranked Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament.
PLAY OF THE YEAR: Grace Summers' 78th minute goal against No. 4 seeded Rice in the C-USA Championship quarterfinals to help MT to a 1-0 victory.
Brouwer and Ampomah were honored with the True Blue President's Award, which is the highest honor bestowed upon a current MT student-athlete who epitomizes all that is good in intercollegiate athletics. Presented annually to one male and one female senior student-athlete, the President's Award recognizes outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments, University/community service and leadership.
Brouwer and Ampomah both have excelled in the classroom. Brouwer has already earned her degree in business management with a 3.92 GPA, while Ampomah owns a 3.20 in criminal justice.
"This is always the highlight of the year when we can recognize the accomplishments of our student-athletes both in the classroom and in their respective sport," said Director of Athletics Chris Massaro. "This was another special night and I want to thank everyone involved. We have had such an incredible year with a number of outstanding team and individual accomplishments and we can't wait to do it again next year."
Academically, the Student-Athlete Enhancement Center award went to Ayed Zatar Cordero (men's tennis) and Hannah Maina (cross country/track). The highest team GPA award was won by men's tennis for spring 2015 and women's tennis for the fall.
In the individual categories, track standout Eliud Rutto was voted the Male Athlete of the Year while women's basketball star Brea Edwards was honored as the Female Athlete of the Year.
The Male and Female Newcomer of the Year awards went to Alex Johnson of women's basketball and football's Brent Stockstill. Johnson was tabbed the C-USA Freshman of the Year and was a five-time C-USA Freshman of the Week winner. Stockstill, a freshman All-American and 4,000-yard passer, also earned C-USA Freshman of the Year honors.
The Breakout Performer of the Year awards went to Hanley Long (women's golf) and Richie James (football). Long finished second in the C-USA Championship to help MT to a second straight conference title and another NCAA Regional appearance. James, a consensus first team freshman All-American, broke numerous records with his 108 receptions for 1,346 yards.
Middle Tennessee football graduate assistant Tyler Boles was awarded the Make a Difference Award for reaching out to nine-year old Colton Sheets and letting him and his family come to practice and a game. Sheets was diagnosed with leukemia which he has battled most of his life. Boles overheard a conversation at the local Buffalo Wild Wings and that led to the practice and meeting the staff and players.
Fans determined the winners of the Play of the Year, Performance of the Year, and the Game/Event of the Year by voting on GoBlueRaiders.com. The Play of the Year was soccer player Grace Summers' 78th minute goal against No. 4 seeded Rice in the C-USA Championship quarterfinals to help MT to a 1-0 victory. Basketball's Reggie Upshaw won the Performance of the Year award after tallying 21 points, four rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal to lead MT over No. 2 ranked Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament. The Game/Event of the Year was the Blue Raider men's basketball upset over Michigan State in St. Louis during the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Director's Cup Award was won by men's tennis for 4,864.5 hours of service. This award was created to recognize the student-athletes who go above and beyond and who demonstrate an unselfish attitude toward their team, family, and community. The team who has earned the most points throughout the year in the following areas - academic achievement, community outreach, and personal development, take home this prestigious award.
Numerous athletes were also recognized for their academic honors and All-American accolades.
2016 RAIDERS CHOICE AWARDS WINNERS
PRESIDENTS AWARD (MALE): John Ampomah, track
PRESIDENTS AWARD (FEMALE): Kelsey Brouwer, soccer
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Eliud Rutto, track
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Brea Edwards, women's basketball
MALE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Brent Stockstill, football
FEMALE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Alex Johnson, women's basketball
FEMALE BREAKOUT PERFORMER OF THE YEAR: Hanley Long, women's golf
MALE BREAKOUT PERFORMER OF THE YEAR: Richie James, football
ALL-AMERICANS: Richie James – football (Freshman All-American), Brent Stockstill – football (Freshman All-American), John Ampomah – track (First Team), Atsu Nyamadi – track (Second Team), Vincent Okot – track (Second Team), Eliud Rutto – track (First Team)
SAEC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Male: Ayed Zatar Cordero – men's tennis; Hannah Maina, track
MAKE A DIFFERENCE AWARD: Tyler Boles, football
DIRECTOR'S CUP: Men's Tennis
TEAM GPA AWARD/FALL 2015: Women's Tennis
TEAM GPA AWARD/SPRING 2015: Men's Tennis
GAME/EVENT OF THE YEAR: Men's Basketball's upset over No. 2 Michigan State
PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR: Basketball's Reggie Upshaw tallied 21 points, four rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal to lead MT over No. 2 ranked Michigan State in the NCAA Tournament.
PLAY OF THE YEAR: Grace Summers' 78th minute goal against No. 4 seeded Rice in the C-USA Championship quarterfinals to help MT to a 1-0 victory.
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