Posted: Apr 24, 2025

2024-25 Nesty's Athletic Awards Banquet

TEXARKANA, Texas — The Texas A&M University-Texarkana Athletics Department hosted its annual athletic awards banquet, "The Nesty's," on Tuesday, April 22, to celebrate the achievements of TAMUT student-athletes during the 2024–25 academic year. The evening was filled with fun, great food—generously provided by Simmons Bank and Bubba's 33—and a wide array of awards recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of Eagle athletes.Awards and Award Winners

The Mamba Mentality Award: his award honors individuals who demonstrate a relentless drive, strong work ethic, and unwavering dedication to greatness, both in sports and life. It celebrates those who push beyond limits and continually strive for improvement. This award was a peer-vote award, each team had the opportunity to vote for who they feel on their team best resembled the award. Here is the list of the 2024-25 winners; Nathan Ford, Men's Cross Country, Zalenka Brannan, Women's Cross Country, Andre Budrich, Men's Soccer, Judith Belman, Women's Soccer, Mia Mata, Indoor Volleyball, Chi'onne Dailey, Women's Basketball, Deovaunta Williams, Men's Basketball, Lindsey McCullough, Cheer, Savannah Leeks, Dance, Emmanuel Cartagena, Esports, Andre Otzenberger, Men's Tennis, Emmanouela Besi, Women's Tennis, Charles Dorsett III, Men's Track and Field, Bridget McDonald, Women's Track and Field, Eliza Liva Kalnina, Beach Volleyball, Cameron Alardin, Softball, Bobby Velasco, Baseball.

The Eagle Excellence Award: This award recognizes those who positively impact their communities, schools, and teams while embodying the principles of good character. This award wa a peer-voted award, each team had the opportunity to vote for who they feel on their team best resembles the award. Here is the list of the 2024-25 winners; Shea Johnson, Men's Cross Country and Track and Field, Kayla Reeves, Women's Cross Country, Damilare Origunloye, Men's Soccer, Abigail McGuire, Women's Soccer, Kelby Coutee, Indoor Volleyball, Logan Smith, Women's Basketball, Payton Chism & Justin Davis, Men's Basketball, Payton Looney, Cheer, Lydia Martin, Dance, Mason Smallwood, Esports, Marc Gonzalez Molina, Men's Tennis, Tatum Silkes, Women's Tennis, Zalenka Brannan, Women's Track and Field, Riley Mangan, Beach Volleyball, Baylee Stautzenberger, Softball, Jonathan Rios, Baseball.

Soaring Eagle Award:

Male Recipient: Jonathan Rios, Baseball
Female Recipient: Kelby Coutee, Indoor Volleyball

Comeback Player of the Year

Matthew Delaney, Baseball

Play of the Year:

Male Recipient: Austin Kerns' three run walk-off homerun to beat Friends and extend the Eagles record to 6-0
Female Recipient: The final kill by Alanna Deering in the OLLU match that solidified Indoor Volleyball as the 2024 RRAC Regular Season Champions

Freshman of the Year: