Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
2022 Raiders Choice Awards
2022 RAIDERS CHOICE AWARDS
April 28, 2022; Facebook.com/BlueRaiderAthletics
PRESIDENTS AWARD (MALE): Francisco Rocha, tennis
PRESIDENTS AWARD (FEMALE): Courtney Whitson, basketball
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Chris Edge, tennis
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Eusila Chepkemei, track; Peyton DePriest, soccer
MALE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Alaba Akintola, track
FEMALE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Dor Saar, basketball
FEMALE BREAKOUT PERFORMER OF THE YEAR: Marley Banton, volleyball
MALE BREAKOUT PERFORMER OF THE YEAR: Jaylin Lane, football; Eli Lawrence, basketball
ALL-AMERICANS: Peyton DePriest (2021 WSOC) - CoSIDA Academic All-American, Eusila Chepkemei (2022 Indoor T&F) - (First Team/One Mile), Omamuyovwi Erhire (2022 Indoor T&F) - (First Team/High Jump), Alaba Akintola (2022 Indoor T&F) - (Second Team/200m), Esther Isa (2022 Indoor T&F) - (Second Team/Triple Jump), Jaylin Lane (2021 Football) - FWAA First Team Freshman All-American, Kigen Chemadi (First Team/3000M Steeplechase)
TEAM GPA AWARD/SPRING 2021: Women’s Golf (3.79); Men’s Tennis (3.91)
TEAM GPA AWARD/FALL 2021: Women’s Golf (3.52); Men’s Tennis (3.90)
GAME/EVENT OF THE YEAR: Soccer’s 2-1 win over reigning SEC Tournament Champion Vanderbilt and the football team’s Bahamas Bowl win over Toledo
PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR: Anastasiia Boldyreva’s career-high 28-point effort in road win over Toledo during the WNIT quarterfinals. Boldyreva had 26 points in the second half, including the go-ahead basket in overtime with 59 seconds to play
PLAY OF THE YEAR: Nick Wolf recorded a hole-in-one on the 11th hole at the Country Club of Sapphire Valley in the first round of the JT Poston Invitational.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE AWARD: Nelson Mandela once spoke of a lesson he imparted to young people, that “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” This year’s Making A Difference Award winner embodies that selfless service to others in their actions in the athletic arena, and outside of it. A two-time captain for Middle Tennessee’s football team, this year’s honoree has shown tremendous growth across his career on the gridiron, continuing to not only better himself, but his teammates through his actions and mentorship. In 2021, he started a non-profit, Hands Worldwide, which has helped feed those in need in his hometown of Atlanta over the winter holidays and also launched a blanket drive during the winter months in the Mid-state, with the help of many of his Blue Raider teammates, that helped keep the homeless warm in both Murfreesboro and Nashville. That selfless devotion to not only his teammates, but also the community at large, continues to make the difference in the lives of so many people.
