Hannah Levi: Impact Player
May 17, 2023 | Women's Golf
Bulldog senior has been a huge piece of the MSU women’s golf program.
STARKVILLE – Every good team is made up of great athletes – those who are reliable and have a solid track record for getting the job done when it matters most.
Then there are those who make impacts in ways that go beyond their performances on the field, court, track or course.
Mississippi State women's golf captain Hannah Levi has taken on this role during her five seasons with the Bulldogs. Along with her consistency on rolling fairways and fast greens, she's embodied what it means to be a team leader and outstanding representative of her program across all areas.
"You look over her career, that's exactly what she's been is just a steady, impact player," head coach Charlie Ewing said. "That's entirely due to just strong will, really strong mindset, really strong work ethic and I'm just really proud of her for what she's done."
It all started when Levi was a prominent high school golfer out of D'Iberville High School, located a little more than 250 miles from Starkville along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Women's golf wasn't a prominent sport in the state at the time, but Levi's remarkable talent garnered some attention from area colleges. As Ewing explained, Levi's eventual decision to play at Mississippi State was the perfect fit for the small-town golfer looking to grow the sport.
"She's Mississippi born and raised, and that's really special," Ewing said. "Golf in the state of Mississippi is something that… it's growing, it's getting better."
As Levi transitioned to the collegiate level, there were a few things about her that stood out, namely her determination and ability to be a strong leader. She continued to put in the work, proving herself as a reliable teammate and earning many opportunities to showcase her skills while competing in tournaments across the South. While she trained physically, she also took an interest in understanding the mental aspect of her game.
"She's really invested into the learning side of golf, not just getting in a bunch of reps, getting in a bunch of hours, but actually learning what works," Ewing said.
When Ewing decided to appoint someone to lead the team, the choice was clear. Levi, a seasoned veteran by that point, was named the team captain: an honor that speaks highly of her character as well as her athletic abilities. Her influence was evident after just one year in her position, and she continued to fill the role as a team leader heading into her final season.
"People look up to her," Ewing said. "When she speaks, people listen."
Ewing added that Levi embraces that responsibility.
"She really just likes to be that voice for the team, but also for the coaching staff," Ewing said. "That really is huge."
One of the biggest moments of Levi's golf career came just last week as Mississippi State won the 2023 Westfield Regional to advance to the NCAA National Championship. This was the first regional victory in program history, and it held significant value for Levi individually.
Levi shot ahead of the competition quickly, recording a 4-under opening round to sit second on the leaderboard behind teammate Julia Lopez Ramirez. As the days went on, the senior continued to excel, recording a 6-under second round and a 2-under final round. Levi finished the stretch of 54 holes with a third-place standing on the leaderboard, earning her ninth career top five finish during her time in the Maroon and White.
The record-setting round was a profound moment for Levi and allowed her teammates and coaches to be by her side to celebrate the wonderful achievement.
"When you see that in year five, she goes out to an NCAA Regional Championship Golf Tournament — that big of a stage — and performs at that level, not only to help us get through or to play well, but for kind of leading the way for us to win that tournament as a team, [that] really is special," Ewing said.
The work isn't quite done for Levi and her teammates. The Bulldogs are all set to compete in the NCAA National Championship, which begins on Friday. Levi is looking to ride the momentum from her regional showing into another career-best performance, and she has plenty of people in her corner to cheer her on.
"I know everybody is really excited for her to have a great national championship as well," Ewing said.
Although Levi's time at Mississippi State will soon live on in just her memories, the impact that she has had on the women's golf program is sure to be felt for years to come. From a small-town Mississippi girl to a standout golfer playing for a national title, she's grown into a student-athlete that has impacted both MSU and her sport for the better.
"When you have a player coming out of the state of Mississippi represent this university [and] do a really, really good job of that, that really means a lot," Ewing said. "It's really special to look at the career that she's had and the way that she fights and the way that she perseveres."
Players Mentioned
