Courtesy: TSU Athletics

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University’s Athletic Department honored its student-athletes and coaches at the annual awards banquet Tuesday night.

Former TSU men’s basketball player and Mr. TSU Jordan Gaither served as the master of ceremonies for the event in Kean Hall, with Director of Athletics Teresa Phillips and TSU President Glenda Glover delivering opening remarks.

The head coach from each program spoke about their team and presented their award winners.

Among the major award winners were track and field senior James Faison, as the Male Athlete of the Year, and women’s basketball junior Tia Wooten, as the Female Athlete of the Year. They were voted on by TSU’s athletic administrators and head coaches.

Men’s tennis senior Shashank Nautiyal earned the Top Male Academic Excellence Award for the highest GPA among male student-athletes. On the women’s side, the Top Female Academic Excellence Award was shared by Pragati Natraj (tennis) and Abhilasha Vishwanath (tennis).

AWARD WINNERS

• MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
  • James Faison – Men’s Track and Field
• FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
  • Tia Wooten – Women’s Basketball
• FOOTBALL
  • Joe W. Gilliam Defensive Player of the Year – Chris Collins
  • Eldridge Dickey Offensive Player of the Year – Patrick Smith
  • Sidney Crutchfield Special Teams Player of the Year – Lane Clark
  • Richard Dent-Defensive Lineman – Jason Morrow
  • Vernon Holland Offensive Lineman of the Year – Ty Allen
  • Alvin “CAT” Coleman Co-Offensive Back of the Year – Sabree Curtis/Seth Rowland
  • Ed “Too Tall” Jones Most improved Player – Terrence Summers
  • Fred Lee Spirit Award – Terence Harris
  • Dominique Rodgers Cromartie (DRC) Defensive Back of the Year – LaQuarius Cook
  • Heart of a Tiger Courage Award – Arkeem Granger
• WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
  • MVP – Tia Wooten
  • Defensive Player of the Year – Asia Sims
  • Tiger Leadership Award – Maxine Beard
  • Most Improved Player – Kaliya Griffin
  • Rookie of the Year – Taylor Roberts
• MEN’S BASKETBALL
  • Anthony Mason Defensive Player of the Year- Christian Mekowulu
  • Carlos Rogers Most Improved Player- Delano Spencer
  • Robert Covington Character Award – Tripp Davis
• VOLLEYBALL
  • MVP – Cherlie Adorno-DeJesus
  • Newcomer of the Year – Rachel Henderson
  • Setter of the Year – Samantha Beltran
• MEN’S TENNIS
  • MVP – Shashank Nautiyal
• WOMEN’S TENNIS
  • MVP – Pragati Natraj
• MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
  • MVP – Larry McNary
• WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
  • MVP – Rebekah Wynn
• WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
  • MVP – Angel Horton
• MEN’S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
  • Co-MVP – James Faison
  • Co-MVP –R’Lazon Brumfield
• SOFTBALL
  • MVP – Megan Huppee
• SPIRIT TEAM
  • MVP – Rickia Langston
• MEN’S GOLF
  • MVP – TBA
• WOMEN’S GOLF
  • MVP – TBA
• MEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
  • MVP – TBA
• WOMEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
  • MVP – TBA
• TOP MALE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD
  • Shashank Nautiyal – Men’s Tennis
• TOP FEMALE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD
  • Pragati Natraj – Women’s Tennis
  • Abhilasha Vishwanath – Women’s Tennis
• ACADEMIC AWARDS
  • Samson Oyediran – Men’s Basketball
  • Maxine Beard – Women’s Basketball
  • Jemarruse Amos – Men’s Track and Field
  • Amani Taylor – Women’s Track and Field
  • Lane Clark – Football
  • Kody Rendleman – Men’s Golf
  • Morgan Rood – Women’s Golf
  • Megan Huppee – Softball
  • Shashank Nautiyal – Men’s Tennis
  • Pragati Natraj – Women’s Tennis
  • Abhilasha Vishwanath – Women’s Tennis
  • Ani Popiashvili – Women’s Tennis
  • Cherlie Adorno – DeJesus Volleyball
  • Asyen Taylor – Spirit Team
• FEMALE LIFTER OF THE YEAR
  • Nicquayleeonntea Moore – Women’s Track and Field
• MALE LIFTER OF THE YEAR
  • Chris Rowland – Football

To see photo gallery and video from the banquet, visit http://www.tsutigers.com/news/articles/2017-18/8595/tsu-celebrates-2018-athletics-banquet/

Department of Media Relations

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Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331

About Tennessee State University

With more than 8,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban, co-educational, land-grant university offering 38 bachelor’s degree programs, 25 master’s degree programs and seven doctoral degrees. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.