MSU Recognizes Student-Athlete Success at 2024 Maroon And White Night

STARKVILLE, MS - April 30, 2024 - Maroon and White Night at Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville, MS. Photo By Ivy Rose Ball

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

MSU Recognizes Student-Athlete Success at 2024 Maroon And White Night

May 01, 2024 | Baseball, Cross Country, Football, Athletics, Men's Basketball, Men's Golf, Men's Tennis, Softball, Track & Field, Women's Basketball, Women's Golf, Soccer, Women's Tennis, Volleyball, Spirit Squads

By: Elizabeth Keen, Student Assistant

STARKVILLE – On Tuesday evening, Humphrey Coliseum was filled with stylish outfits, flashing cameras and smiling faces as Mississippi State student-athletes celebrated the sixth-annual Maroon and White Night awards banquet.

Individuals across 14 sports were recognized for their athletic success, scholarly abilities and community service endeavors that occurred between the beginning of 2023 and the end of the 2023-2024 winter sports season. The event was just as impressive as a Hollywood awards show, complete with a stage and runway, top-notch presenters and gold trophies shaped like Bulldogs for the winners.

Football's Nathaniel Watson heard his name called for the Male Athlete of the Year award, while women's golf standout Julia Lopez Ramirez earned the award for Female Athlete of the Year.

Watson was named the AP SEC Defensive Player of the Year following an incredible 2023 season. The linebacker led the conference with 137 tackles in 12 games played and added 13 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and two forced fumbles on the year.

MSU Football Director of Career and Professional Development Greg Knox accepted the award in place of Watson, who was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft over the weekend.

Lopez Ramirez received her award following another successful season as one of the top amateur women's golfers in the world. The junior captured the title of SEC Individual Champion and was named the 2023 SEC Golfer of the Year. She has recorded 18 top-five finishes and eight victories in her collegiate career.

Bulldogs in attendance were able to vote on the Moment of the Year, awarded to the year's biggest win across all sports. Men's basketball's top-five victory over Tennessee inside an electric Hump took home the honor. Women's basketball's victory over defending-champion LSU, soccer's NCAA Tournament win over Brown and baseball's walk-off win against Ole Miss in front of a record-breaking crowd at Dudy Noble Field were the other finalists.

Attendees also selected the event's best-dressed student-athletes, and it was certainly a tough choice. Women's tennis student-athlete Athina Pitta turned heads and captured the honor with a classy white business suit. On the men's side, golfer Garrett Endicott received a huge ovation for his maroon shorts that were covered with stitched MSU logos.

Here is a complete list of the evening's winners:

Male Athlete of the Year: Nathaniel Watson, football

Female Athlete of the Year: Julia Lopez Ramirez, women's golf

Moment of the Year: Men's basketball's win over Tennessee

Male Community Service Award: Nick Barr-Mira, football

Female Community Service Award: Rickea Atkins, track and field

Clanga Cup (awarded to the program that embodies the department's goal of professional, academic and athletic development and partakes in community service endeavors): Softball

Dance Team Member of the Year: Madison Couture

All-Girl Cheerleader of the Year: Hallie Gray House

Male Coed Cheerleader of the Year: Brennan Hull

Female Coed Cheerleader of the Year: Autumn Parker

Newsom Awards (given to one student-athlete in each sport for outstanding athletic and academic success): Debreasha Powe, women's basketball; Jarutrawee Khotchagrai, women's golf; Macey Hodge, soccer; Madisyn Kennedy, softball; Alexandra Mikhailuk, women's tennis; Ramat Jimoh, cross country; Rosealee Cooper, women's track and field; Rebecca Walk, volleyball; Evan Siary, baseball; Jimmy Bell Jr., men's basketball; Grant Jackson, football; Pedro Cruz Silva, men's golf; Nemanja Malesevic, men's tennis; Alfonso Hale Jr., men's track and field