Williams, Pinto Named Finalists For H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Of The Year
May 25, 2016 | Men's Tennis, Softball, Athletic Academics
STARKVILLE, Miss. Mississippi State senior softball player Callye Williams and senior tennis athlete Jose-Carlos Pinto were named two of the 24 finalists for the H. McWhorter Scholar-Athlete of the year award announced Tuesday by the Southeastern Conference. The annual award honors the SEC male and female student-athletes of the year. Each finalist will receive a $5,000 post-graduate scholarship while the outstanding male and female student athlete, announced on April 6, will receive a scholarship of $10,000.
Williams posted career highs across the board for the Maroon and White last season, hitting .274 (49-for-179) with 16 extra-base hits (3 HR) and 22 RBI in helping to lead the Bulldogs to their fourth consecutive NCAA Regional appearance. Along the way, she collected 12 multiple-hit games and six multiple-RBI contests while also turning in a team-best 18 two-out RBI. Having also taken home a pair of all-tournament team honors, Williams was also decorated with team Gold Glove honors after committing just nine errors in 259 chances for a .965 fielding percentage as MSU's every day second baseman. The fielding percentage was tops among all SEC players at the position.
In the classroom, Williams maintains a 3.61 cumulative grade point average as a Communication major and has been named twice to the SEC academic honor roll. She has also been decorated with NFCA all-America scholar athlete laurels on two occasions as well.
Williams, a Katy, Texas, native, is the lone senior on Mississippi State's 2006 softball roster.
Pinto is coming off a junior campaign where he was ranked as high as #95 in singles. He went 9-8 in singles dual matches, including a 6-5 mark against SEC competition primarily at the #3 and #4 positions. Pinto and teammate Luiz Carvalho were ranked as high as 10th nationally in doubles last spring and made an appearance in the NCAA Doubles Championships. This season, Pinto is 8-11 in singles play and 5-8 in doubles for the Bulldogs.
In the classroom, Pinto holds a 4.00 GPA at MSU as a Banking and Finance major, as well as a 3.99 cumulative GPA with the inclusion of his academic work at Hampton University. Pinto is a two-time recipient of the ITA Scholar Athlete Award and the Academic all-SEC team. He has been a President's Scholar as well as a member of the Bulldog honor roll every semester at State.
Pinto, a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, is in his third year with the Bulldog tennis program.
Earlier this season, Williams and Pinto were also named the individual winners of Mississippi State's Hallbrook Award, given annually to the top male and female at each state university who distinguishes themselves in the areas of athletics, academics, leadership and public service.
