NOMINEES ANNOUNCED FOR RCA AWARDS

SHOW IS THURSDAY; #2017RCA

Josh Vardaman

MURFREESBORO, Tenn.- Middle Tennessee's finest student-athletes will be recognized Thursday during the sixth annual Raiders' Choice Awards. The hashtag for the show will be #2017RCA.
 
Held at the MTSU Tucker Theater, the awards show is set up like the ESPYs and recognizes the athletic and academic achievements of Blue Raider student-athletes during the 2016-17 school year. The stars of the show will enter via a blue carpet, and the public is welcome to attend with a limited number of free tickets available.
 
Awards handed out include three that are voted on by the fans: Play of the Year, Performance of the Year and Game/Event of the Year. Other categories are the Make a Difference Award, Male/Female Newcomer of the Year, Male/Female Breakout Performer of the Year, Male/Female Athlete of the Year, the Director's Cup, Academic Achievement Award, Highest Team GPA Award and the President's Award. Special recognition will also be given to All-Americans and conference champions.
 
Fans can vote on the Play of the Year, Performance of the Year and Game/Event of the Year awards at GoBlueRaiders.com.
 
The night kicks off at 6:00 p.m. A full list of past winners can be found on GoBlueRaiders.com.
 
Here are this year's nominees:
 
Make a Difference Award
Luke Denison, baseball
Eli Deml, men's basketball
 
Female Newcomer of the Year
Lidia Burrows, tennis
Kyla Allison, basketball
Meg Irvin, volleyball
Amber Hoot, soccer
Agnes Abu, cross country
Janet Amponsah, track and field
Cori Jennings, softball
Cynthia Bounleutay, golf
 
Male Newcomer of the Year
Ty Lee, football
Tyrik Dixon, basketball
Jacob Choge, cross country
Solomon Afful, track and field
Blake Benefield, baseball
Joey Savoie, golf
Tom Moonen, tennis
 
Play of the Year
- Richie James' electrifying 56-yard touchdown catch against Missouri.
- JaCorey Williams' buzzer-beating jumper on the road against UAB to clinch a 66-64 win and the Conference USA regular-season title.
- Rebecca Reuter's and-one play with 50 seconds remaining against Charlotte that tied the game at 78 and helped propel the Lady Raiders to victory.
- Riley Delgado's RBI single in the 11^th inning to give the Blue Raiders a 10-9 walkoff win over rival WKU, capping a 4-for-5 performance from Delgado.
- Lexi Cushing's pinch hit two-run home run, her first career blast, to give MT a 5-3 walkoff win over Tennessee Tech in the Georgia Southern Tournament.
- Reggie Upshaw's momentum-swinging 3-pointer against Minnesota in the NCAA Tournament first round that led the Blue Raiders to victory.
 
Game/Event of the Year
- Football defeats Missouri 51-45.
- Men's basketball takes down Vanderbilt.
- Softball wins series at LA Tech.
- Baseball wins at Tennessee.
- Men's basketball upsets No. 5 seed Minnesota in the NCAA Tournament.
- Men's track and field wins the C-USA Indoor Championship.
- Men's golf wins the invitational at The Ocean Course.
- Men's tennis upsets Valparaiso
 
Performance of the Year
- Blake Benefield at ODU
- Jacob Choge at the C-USA cross country championship
- Richie James vs. FAU
- Meg Irvin vs. Charlotte
- Giddy Potts vs. Marshall
- Abike Egbeniyi at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship
- Austyn Whaley at the Georgia Southern Softball Tournament
- I'Tavius Mathers at Bowling Green
- Jacob Choge at the NCAA Cross Country South Regional
- Sydney Chalcraft vs. Florida State
- Ilari Saulo at the Quail Valley Collegiate Invitational
- Ty Petty at UAB
- Gretchen Greer at LA Tech
- Hanley Long at the Lady Paladin Invitational
 
Female Breakout Performer
Costanza Magazzini, tennis
Abbey Sissom, basketball
Jacqueline Lux, volleyball
Sydney Navarro, soccer
Hannah Maina, cross country
Abike Egbeniyi, track and field
Summer Burgess, softball
Jenna Burris, golf
 
Male Breakout Performer
I'Tavius Mathers, football
Brandon Walters, basketball
Sampson Laari, cross country
Kigen Chemadi, track and field
Riley Delgado, baseball
Ilari Saulo, golf
Luis Morillo Diaz, tennis
 
Female Athlete of the Year
Lidia Burrows, tennis
Ty Petty, basketball
Jacqueline Lux, volleyball
Amber Hoot, soccer
Hannah Maina, cross country
Elizabeth Dadzie, track and field
Precious Birdsong, softball
Samantha Gotcher, golf
 
Male Athlete of the Year
Richie James, football
Reggie Upshaw, basketball
JaCorey Williams, basketball
Jacob Choge, cross country
Eliud Rutto, track and field
Riley Delgado, baseball
Joey Savoie, golf
Gonzalo Morell Raschiatore, tennis
 
True Blue President's Award (Female)
Samantha Gotcher, golf
Jacqueline Lux, volleyball
Kristin Uselton, softball
Alex Johnson, basketball
Precious Birdsong, softball
 
True Blue President's Award (Male)
Brent Stockstill, football
Reggie Upshaw, basketball
Joey Savoie, golf
Caleb King, baseball
Eliud Rutto, track