Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Lee, Al-Amin take top honors at 15th annual RCA Awards Show
4/30/2026 9:00:00 PM | General
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Golf's Abbie Lee and men's tennis' Karim Al-Amin were the big winners at the 15th Annual Raiders' Choice Awards on Thursday night. The year-end "Academy Awards" style show at Tucker Theatre highlighted all the academic and athletic accomplishments of the Blue Raider student-athletes for the 2025-26 academic year.
Lee and Al-Amin were honored with the True Blue President's Award, which is the highest honor bestowed upon a current MTSU student-athlete who epitomizes all that is good in intercollegiate athletics. Presented annually to one male and one female student-athlete, the President's Award recognizes outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments, university/community service and leadership.
Both excelled in the classroom, community and on the court/field. Lee, a team captain and repeat winner from a year ago, carries an impressive 4.0 GPA in her major of Mechatronics Engineering. Lee averaged 75.93 strokes per round, shooting a career-low 67 in the Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate where she dropped in her first career hole-in-one. The Glasgow, Ky., native also serves as the SAAC President where she has organized numerous community service events.
Al-Amin carries a 3.9 GPA and recently led the Blue Raiders to their seventh straight CUSA Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Waltrop, Germany native was recently named First Team All-CUSA in singles and doubles after amassing a 19-4 singles record and a 15-8 doubles mark. He is pursuing a major in psychology with minors in neuroscience and entrepreneurship.
Academically, the Student-Athlete Enhancement Center awarded the highest Team GPA honors for the spring 2025 semester and the fall 2025 semester. The spring 2025 honor went to women's soccer (3.68), while the fall 2025 award also went to women's soccer (3.79).
Soccer also won the Community Service Award following 1,137 hours of service.
In the individual categories, cross country standout Allan Kiplagat was voted Male Athlete of the Year, while women's golf star Isabella Johnson was named the Female Athlete of the Year winner. Kiplagat delivered a standout sophomore campaign in 2025, building on his record-breaking freshman season. He finished the year with two individual victories, four top-three finishes, and five top-five placements, highlighted by his individual title at the CUSA Championship. Johnson had a school record 17 rounds of par or better, while leading the team with a 72.32 stroke average. A CUSA Golfer of the Week winner, Johnson tallied five top five finishes during the season.
The Male and Female Newcomer of the Year awards went to Jahvin Carter from men's basketball and Blair Baugus from women's basketball. The sophomore transfer made an immediate impact as a Blue Raider, averaging 10.8 points per contest and leading the way with 114 total assists. Carter had the best scoring performance of any MTSU player this year with 27 points against New Mexico State.
Baugus delivered one of the most dominant freshman seasons in Conference USA, earning CUSA Freshman of the Year, First Team All-CUSA, All-Freshman Team honors, and eight Freshman of the Week selections. Baugus averaged 13.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game while shooting 45.2 percent from the field, 37 percent from three, and 74.8 percent from the free throw line.
The Breakout Performer of the Year awards went to Caroline Macander (volleyball) and Cooper Clapp (baseball). A six-rotation starter, Macander was named Tennessee Sports Writers Association Volleyball Player of the Week two times, broke the Middle Tennessee single-season double-doubles record, and found herself in the top five in CUSA in total assists and top ten in total digs. A season removed from playing only 30 games due to a hand injury, Clapp has hit .318 through 44 games for Middle Tennessee, providing power with six home runs while accumulating a .419 on base percentage with 23 RBI.
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 Cooper Clapp's first career walk-off hit to down St. Bonaventure. The Performance of the Year award went to Faith Nyathi's school record win in the 5000M at CUSA Championship. The Game/Event of the Year was MTSU men's tennis win over No. 19 Princeton.
The Blue Raider Impact Award went to Dr. Paul Patel.
Numerous athletes were also recognized for their academic honors and individual championships.
2026 RAIDERS CHOICE AWARDS
April 30, 2026
PRESIDENTS AWARD (MALE): Karim Al-Amin, men's tennis
PRESIDENTS AWARD (FEMALE): Abbie Lee, women's golf
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Allan Kiplagat, cross country
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Isabella Johnson, women's golf
MALE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Jahvin Carter, men's basketball
FEMALE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Blair Baugus, women's basketball
FEMALE BREAKOUT PERFORMER OF THE YEAR: Caroline Macander, volleyball
MALE BREAKOUT PERFORMER OF THE YEAR: Cooper Clapp, baseball
TEAM GPA AWARD/SPRING 2025: Soccer (3.686)
TEAM GPA AWARD/FALL 2025: Soccer (3.792)
COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Soccer (1,137 hours)
GAME/EVENT OF THE YEAR: MTSU Men's Tennis win over No. 19 Princeton
PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR: Faith Nyathi's school record win in the 5000M at CUSA Championship
PLAY OF THE YEAR: Cooper Clapp's first career walk-off hit to down St. Bonaventure
BLUE RAIDER IMPACT AWARD: Dr. Paul Patel
Lee and Al-Amin were honored with the True Blue President's Award, which is the highest honor bestowed upon a current MTSU student-athlete who epitomizes all that is good in intercollegiate athletics. Presented annually to one male and one female student-athlete, the President's Award recognizes outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments, university/community service and leadership.
Both excelled in the classroom, community and on the court/field. Lee, a team captain and repeat winner from a year ago, carries an impressive 4.0 GPA in her major of Mechatronics Engineering. Lee averaged 75.93 strokes per round, shooting a career-low 67 in the Mercedes-Benz Intercollegiate where she dropped in her first career hole-in-one. The Glasgow, Ky., native also serves as the SAAC President where she has organized numerous community service events.
Al-Amin carries a 3.9 GPA and recently led the Blue Raiders to their seventh straight CUSA Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Waltrop, Germany native was recently named First Team All-CUSA in singles and doubles after amassing a 19-4 singles record and a 15-8 doubles mark. He is pursuing a major in psychology with minors in neuroscience and entrepreneurship.
Academically, the Student-Athlete Enhancement Center awarded the highest Team GPA honors for the spring 2025 semester and the fall 2025 semester. The spring 2025 honor went to women's soccer (3.68), while the fall 2025 award also went to women's soccer (3.79).
Soccer also won the Community Service Award following 1,137 hours of service.
In the individual categories, cross country standout Allan Kiplagat was voted Male Athlete of the Year, while women's golf star Isabella Johnson was named the Female Athlete of the Year winner. Kiplagat delivered a standout sophomore campaign in 2025, building on his record-breaking freshman season. He finished the year with two individual victories, four top-three finishes, and five top-five placements, highlighted by his individual title at the CUSA Championship. Johnson had a school record 17 rounds of par or better, while leading the team with a 72.32 stroke average. A CUSA Golfer of the Week winner, Johnson tallied five top five finishes during the season.
The Male and Female Newcomer of the Year awards went to Jahvin Carter from men's basketball and Blair Baugus from women's basketball. The sophomore transfer made an immediate impact as a Blue Raider, averaging 10.8 points per contest and leading the way with 114 total assists. Carter had the best scoring performance of any MTSU player this year with 27 points against New Mexico State.
Baugus delivered one of the most dominant freshman seasons in Conference USA, earning CUSA Freshman of the Year, First Team All-CUSA, All-Freshman Team honors, and eight Freshman of the Week selections. Baugus averaged 13.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game while shooting 45.2 percent from the field, 37 percent from three, and 74.8 percent from the free throw line.
The Breakout Performer of the Year awards went to Caroline Macander (volleyball) and Cooper Clapp (baseball). A six-rotation starter, Macander was named Tennessee Sports Writers Association Volleyball Player of the Week two times, broke the Middle Tennessee single-season double-doubles record, and found herself in the top five in CUSA in total assists and top ten in total digs. A season removed from playing only 30 games due to a hand injury, Clapp has hit .318 through 44 games for Middle Tennessee, providing power with six home runs while accumulating a .419 on base percentage with 23 RBI.
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 Cooper Clapp's first career walk-off hit to down St. Bonaventure. The Performance of the Year award went to Faith Nyathi's school record win in the 5000M at CUSA Championship. The Game/Event of the Year was MTSU men's tennis win over No. 19 Princeton.
The Blue Raider Impact Award went to Dr. Paul Patel.
Numerous athletes were also recognized for their academic honors and individual championships.
2026 RAIDERS CHOICE AWARDS
April 30, 2026
PRESIDENTS AWARD (MALE): Karim Al-Amin, men's tennis
PRESIDENTS AWARD (FEMALE): Abbie Lee, women's golf
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Allan Kiplagat, cross country
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Isabella Johnson, women's golf
MALE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Jahvin Carter, men's basketball
FEMALE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Blair Baugus, women's basketball
FEMALE BREAKOUT PERFORMER OF THE YEAR: Caroline Macander, volleyball
MALE BREAKOUT PERFORMER OF THE YEAR: Cooper Clapp, baseball
TEAM GPA AWARD/SPRING 2025: Soccer (3.686)
TEAM GPA AWARD/FALL 2025: Soccer (3.792)
COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Soccer (1,137 hours)
GAME/EVENT OF THE YEAR: MTSU Men's Tennis win over No. 19 Princeton
PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR: Faith Nyathi's school record win in the 5000M at CUSA Championship
PLAY OF THE YEAR: Cooper Clapp's first career walk-off hit to down St. Bonaventure
BLUE RAIDER IMPACT AWARD: Dr. Paul Patel
MTSU Men's Tennis CUSA Championship Recap 4/19/26
Wednesday, April 22
Former Head MBB Coach Kermit Davis - 10th Anniversary of NCAA win over MSU
Tuesday, March 17
MT Women's Basketball | Together: Episode Twelve | Find a way
Saturday, March 14
MTSU Women's Basketball Postgame Press Conference vs FIU on 3/05/26
Friday, March 06
