LSC ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

[Great White Buffalo]

For the second consecutive year, and fourth time in school history, West Texas A&M swept the annual athlete of the year awards as track & field standouts Zada Swoopes and Benjamin Azamati were named the Lone Star Conference Athletes of the Year following the league announcement on Thursday afternoon.

Swoopes becomes the third Lady Buff track & field athlete to be named the league's top female athlete after leading them to the program's third national title. She is one of eight Lady Buffs to earn the recognition alongside last season's honoree Shanna McBroom (2021), Fatim Affessi (2019), Rellie Kaputin (2017), Renee Erwin (2014), Emily Brister (2009, 2008, 2007, 2006), Celeste Stevenson (2005) and Sarah Butler (2000).

The Whitewright, Texas native was named the USTFCCCA National Field Athlete of the Year after finishing her career as one of the most dominant throwers in NCAA Division II history. She grabbed 25 points to lead the way for the Lady Buffs after finishing atop the podium in the shot put and discus for the second straight year while finishing fourth in the hammer throw.

She finishes her career for the Maroon & White as a seven-time national champion, 14-time All-American, 16-time All-Region selection, and 10-time LSC champion. She holds the NCAA DII indoor shot put record holder and indoor and outdoor meet record holder in the event along with school records in the discus, hammer, and weight throw.

Azamati becomes just the second male student-athlete in 21 years to win the award in consecutive seasons since Texas A&M-Kingsville's Roberto Garza in 2001. He is just one of three Buffs to be named the league's top male athlete joining Marshall Kasowski (2017) and Dustin Vaughan (2014).

The South Central Region Male Track Athlete of the Year broke his own NCAA DII and Ghana national record in the 100-meter during his first race of the season. His record breaking 9.90 at the Texas Relays marks the fifth-fastest time in all-collegiate history and holds the top seven times in DII in the event.

He was equally impressive in the 200m as he matched his own NCAA DII record in that event at Jo Meaker Classic in Canyon after running 20.13. He also ran the anchor leg on the 4x100-meter relay that claimed the program's first national title in either relay event with the fastest time in program history at 39.27. In the indoor season, the Akim Oda, Ghana product tied the DII 60m record at 6.54, matching North Carolina Central's Jason Smoots NCAA record set back in 2003.

LONE STAR CONFERENCE MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
2022 Benjamin Azamati, West Texas A&M, So., Track and Field
2021 Benjamin Azamati, West Texas A&M, So., Track and Field
2020 Zimari Manning, Tarleton State, Sr., Football
2019 Markus Jones, Angelo State, Sr., Football
2018 Luis Perez, Texas A&M-Commerce, Sr., Football
2017 Daeshon Francis, UT Permian Basin, Jr., Basketball
Marshall Kasowski, West Texas A&M, Jr., Baseball
2016 Marqui Christian, Midwestern State, Sr., Football
2015 Steve Naemark, Angelo State, Jr., Baseball
2014 Dustin Vaughan, West Texas A&M, Sr., Football
2013 Alex Carpenter, Abilene Christian, Sr., Golf
2012 Nick Jones, Abilene Christian, Sr., Track and Field
2011 Chase Larsson, Cameron, Jr., Baseball
2010 Cyril Bouniol, Abilene Christian, Jr., Golf
2009 Bernard Scott, Abilene Christian, Sr., Football
2008 Sam Belt, Central Oklahoma, Sr., Basketball
2007 Nicodemus Naimadu, Abilene Christian, Sr., Cross Country/Track and Field
2006 Danieal Manning, Abilene Christian, Football
2005 Drew Beard, Southeastern Okla., Football
2004 Cole Province, Central Oklahoma, Wrestling
2003 Olan Coleman, Tarleton State, Football/Track and Field
2002 Steve Kelly, Tarleton State, Football
2001 Roberto Garza, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Football/Track and Field
2000 Roberto Garza, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Football/Track and Field
1999 Eddie Robinson, Central Oklahoma, Basketball

LONE STAR CONFERENCE FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
2022 Zada Swoopes, West Texas A&M, Sr., Track and Field
2021 Shanna McBroom, West Texas A&M, Sr., Softball
2020 Maddi Chitsey, Lubbock Christian, Sr., Basketball
2019 Fatim Affessi, West Texas A&M, Jr., Track and Field
2018 Kami Norton, Angelo State, Sr., Track and Field
2017 Rellie Kaputin, West Texas A&M, Sr., Track and Field
2016 Isabel Jimenez-Perea, Tarleton State, Sr., Golf
2015 Brenna Moore, Midwestern State, Sr., Golf
2014 Renee Erwin, West Texas A&M, Jr., Softball
2013 Katie Hines, Texas Woman's, Jr., Softball
2012 Elsamartina Apo, Angelo State, Sr., Softball
2011 Carla Cooper, Tarleton State, Sr., Golf
2010 Aisha Adams, Angelo State, Sr., Track and Field
2009 Emily Brister, West Texas A&M, Sr., Basketball
2008 Emily Brister, West Texas A&M, Jr., Basketball
2007 Emily Brister, West Texas A&M, So., Basketball
2006 Emily Brister, West Texas A&M, Fr., Basketball
2005 Celeste Stevenson, West Texas A&M, Basketball
2004 Michelle Hofmann, Angelo State, Softball
2003 LaTasha Mosley, Angelo State, Track and Field
2002 Brandi Robinson, Southeastern Okla., Basketball
2001 Precious Thibodeaux, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Basketball/Track and Field
2000 Sarah Butler, West Texas A&M, Volleyball
1999 Tracy Barnes, Abilene Christian, Track and Field

[ASUPops]

CONGRATS!!!!!! Great accomplishment for those two young athletes.

[BuffaloChip]

Interestingly, Zada Swoopes came to WT on a basketball scholarship. She played her freshman year as a dual sport athlete and, smartly, decided the shot-put and hammer were where her heart and superior talent laid.

Already hired by WT to coach throwers, I wonder if she will continue to train for a potential Olympics spot.