Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
Cotta Earns Academic Momentum Award
May 25, 2021 | Soccer
ORLANDO, Fla. – Mississippi State soccer sophomore Madison Cotta has been recognized for her improvement in academics, being named a recipient of the First Team Academic Momentum Award, the Scholar Baller® program and Institute for Sport & Social Justice (ISSJ) announced Tuesday.
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"Madison has demonstrated an exemplary attitude to her studies over recent semesters after a tough start to her academic career at Mississippi State," said head coach James Armstrong in his letter of recommendation. "She took responsibility, managed her time well and found ways to utilize the resources available to her to ensure a remarkable academic turnaround."
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Top nominations for the award were categorized into three teams based on each student-athlete's academic improvement and the impact each student-athlete's academic performance had on their classmates, teammates, academic advisors, and professors. A total of 27 male and female award recipients were selected for the First Team Academic Momentum Award.
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Cotta, a Human Development and Family Science major at State, earned the honor after her significant improvement in the classroom.
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Her current GPA sits at 1.47 points more than it was in her very first semester at State. She made the President's List, Dean's List and SEC Fall Academic Roll this season. She has embraced working in the local community having recently been hired to work in the MSU Child Development Center and aspires to be a Speech Pathologist.Â
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In addition, she has made improvements on the field.
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In the 2019 season, she was given the starting nod just one time. In the spring portion of the 2020 season, she was named a starter in all four matches. She scored her first career goal in the last match of the season, starting the scoring for the Bulldogs in the four-goal match against Columbus State. Her confidence grew from the first match of the extended season to the last, and so did the coaching staff's confidence in her. She went from playing 12 minutes in the 2020 opener against Auburn, averaging just 19.1 minutes in nine matches, to the full 90 against Troy and averaging 77.75 minutes in the last four matches. She became a staple in the spring stats as more than just a starter, having an assist in three of the four matches and producing at least one shot in three of the four. She had three shots against Columbus State, the same number she had in all nine fall matches.
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First Team Academic Momentum Award
Islam Abudl-Rabb, Lincoln University, Health Science, FootballÂ
Caleb Asberry, Texas State University, Interdisciplinary Studies, BasketballÂ
Kam Babb, Ohio State University, Communication, FootballÂ
Zoe Barnes, Villanova University, Psychology, RowingÂ
Diamond Battles, University of Central Florida, Criminal Justice, BasketballÂ
John (JayJay) Chandler, Texas A&M University, University Studies-Leadership, BasketballÂ
Madison Cotta, Mississippi State University, Human Development and Family Science, SoccerÂ
Baylor Cupp, Texas A&M University, University Studies-Leadership, FootballÂ
Wyatt Davis, Ohio State University, Communication, FootballÂ
Kendall Dearth, Tarleton State University, Business, FootballÂ
Nia Dennis, University of California Los Angeles, Sociology, GymnasticsÂ
Golden Eke, University of Louisiana-Lafayette, General Studies; Business Studies, Football; Track & FieldÂ
Angel Gonzalez, American International College, Chemistry, BaseballÂ
Donovan Hewitt, Ohio State University, Political Science, Gymnastics
Sarah Hofstetter, Loyola University, Psychology, RowingÂ
Antwuan Jackson, Ohio State University, Sociology, FootballÂ
Dominic Johnson, University of Buffalo, Education Studies, FootballÂ
Jaylon Jones, Georgia State University, Human Learning Development, FootballÂ
Maya LeBar, University of Utah, Political Science and Social Justice Certificate, Track & FieldÂ
Celeste Loughman, University of Texas-San Antonio, MS – Business, SoftballÂ
Daniel McKinley-Lewis, University of Toledo, MBA, FootballÂ
Grisdey Paredes-Alvarez, Western New Mexico University, Business Management, SoftballÂ
Juliunn Redmond, Illinois State University, Human Developmental Science, BasketballÂ
Nequareus Roberts-Simon, Livingstone College, Criminal Justice, Track & FieldÂ
Dylan Swingle, Bowling Green State University, Sport Management, BasketballÂ
Valeria Tapia, University of Texas-Rio, Spanish Translation, BasketballÂ
DayAndrea Thompson, Baylor University, Film and Digital Media, Acrobatic Tumbling
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For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, search "HailStateSOC" on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
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"Madison has demonstrated an exemplary attitude to her studies over recent semesters after a tough start to her academic career at Mississippi State," said head coach James Armstrong in his letter of recommendation. "She took responsibility, managed her time well and found ways to utilize the resources available to her to ensure a remarkable academic turnaround."
Â
Top nominations for the award were categorized into three teams based on each student-athlete's academic improvement and the impact each student-athlete's academic performance had on their classmates, teammates, academic advisors, and professors. A total of 27 male and female award recipients were selected for the First Team Academic Momentum Award.
Â
Cotta, a Human Development and Family Science major at State, earned the honor after her significant improvement in the classroom.
Â
Her current GPA sits at 1.47 points more than it was in her very first semester at State. She made the President's List, Dean's List and SEC Fall Academic Roll this season. She has embraced working in the local community having recently been hired to work in the MSU Child Development Center and aspires to be a Speech Pathologist.Â
Â
In addition, she has made improvements on the field.
Â
In the 2019 season, she was given the starting nod just one time. In the spring portion of the 2020 season, she was named a starter in all four matches. She scored her first career goal in the last match of the season, starting the scoring for the Bulldogs in the four-goal match against Columbus State. Her confidence grew from the first match of the extended season to the last, and so did the coaching staff's confidence in her. She went from playing 12 minutes in the 2020 opener against Auburn, averaging just 19.1 minutes in nine matches, to the full 90 against Troy and averaging 77.75 minutes in the last four matches. She became a staple in the spring stats as more than just a starter, having an assist in three of the four matches and producing at least one shot in three of the four. She had three shots against Columbus State, the same number she had in all nine fall matches.
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First Team Academic Momentum Award
Islam Abudl-Rabb, Lincoln University, Health Science, FootballÂ
Caleb Asberry, Texas State University, Interdisciplinary Studies, BasketballÂ
Kam Babb, Ohio State University, Communication, FootballÂ
Zoe Barnes, Villanova University, Psychology, RowingÂ
Diamond Battles, University of Central Florida, Criminal Justice, BasketballÂ
John (JayJay) Chandler, Texas A&M University, University Studies-Leadership, BasketballÂ
Madison Cotta, Mississippi State University, Human Development and Family Science, SoccerÂ
Baylor Cupp, Texas A&M University, University Studies-Leadership, FootballÂ
Wyatt Davis, Ohio State University, Communication, FootballÂ
Kendall Dearth, Tarleton State University, Business, FootballÂ
Nia Dennis, University of California Los Angeles, Sociology, GymnasticsÂ
Golden Eke, University of Louisiana-Lafayette, General Studies; Business Studies, Football; Track & FieldÂ
Angel Gonzalez, American International College, Chemistry, BaseballÂ
Donovan Hewitt, Ohio State University, Political Science, Gymnastics
Sarah Hofstetter, Loyola University, Psychology, RowingÂ
Antwuan Jackson, Ohio State University, Sociology, FootballÂ
Dominic Johnson, University of Buffalo, Education Studies, FootballÂ
Jaylon Jones, Georgia State University, Human Learning Development, FootballÂ
Maya LeBar, University of Utah, Political Science and Social Justice Certificate, Track & FieldÂ
Celeste Loughman, University of Texas-San Antonio, MS – Business, SoftballÂ
Daniel McKinley-Lewis, University of Toledo, MBA, FootballÂ
Grisdey Paredes-Alvarez, Western New Mexico University, Business Management, SoftballÂ
Juliunn Redmond, Illinois State University, Human Developmental Science, BasketballÂ
Nequareus Roberts-Simon, Livingstone College, Criminal Justice, Track & FieldÂ
Dylan Swingle, Bowling Green State University, Sport Management, BasketballÂ
Valeria Tapia, University of Texas-Rio, Spanish Translation, BasketballÂ
DayAndrea Thompson, Baylor University, Film and Digital Media, Acrobatic Tumbling
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For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, search "HailStateSOC" on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
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Players Mentioned
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