We’ve long believed in the power of athletics to open windows and doors of opportunity, both for our student-athletes and to engage our surrounding communities. And I have often remarked that athletics serve as the “front door” of the University. 

Here are some updates on our student-athletes: 

Blue Raiders Excel in NCAA Academic Progress 

Each of MTSU’s 17 athletic teams has earned a multiyear Academic Progress Rate (APR) of over 945 from 2019–20 to 2022–23 as the NCAA released its annual report in June. 

The Blue Raider sports teams have now had at least a 930 for all its sports for 14 years running, with each team coming in at over 945 (out of 1000) in the most recent multiyear APR report. There was not an APR report in 2021 due to COVID and the transfer portal. 

The most recent APR scores are based on a multiyear rate that averages scores from the 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, and 2022–23 academic years. MTSU had 10 of 15 sports (indoor and outdoor track count as one) with a 970 on the multiyear report, with women’s cross country and women’s golf posting a perfect grade of 1000. 

In addition to high levels of success in the multiyear APR, 13 of 15 sports received scores of 970 or higher in the 2022–23 single-year APR, with nine teams boasting perfect marks of 1000. The programs turning in a score of 1000 were women’s basketball, both men’s and women’s cross country, women’s golf, men’s tennis, both men’s and women’s track and field, softball, and volleyball. 

Whitson, Rutter Earn Raiders’ Choice Top Awards 

Basketball’s Courtney Whitson and baseball’s Briggs Rutter were the big winners at the 13th annual Raiders’ Choice Awards in April. The year-end, Academy Awards-style show at Tucker Theatre highlighted all the academic and athletic accomplishments of the Blue Raider student- athletes for the 2023–24 academic year. 

Whitson and Rutter were honored with the True Blue President’s Award, which is the highest honor bestowed upon a current MTSU student-athlete who epitomizes all that is good in intercollegiate athletics. Presented annually to one male and one female student-athlete, the President’s Award recognizes outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments, University/community service, and leadership. 

Both excelled in the classroom, community, and on the court/field. Whitson, who has won the award three years in a row, carried an impressive 3.3 GPA in her master’s program in Professional Studies and was fresh off leading MTSU to a conference championship and a win in the NCAA Tournament. An all-conference performer, Whitson is the program’s all-time three-point scorer while also being a member of the 1,000-point and 1,000-rebound clubs. 

Rutter had a 3.3 GPA and earlier this year became just the third player in school history to hit for the cycle when he accomplished the feat against New Mexico State. After 39 games, Rutter was batting .331 with nine home runs, 35 RBIs, and 43 runs scored. 

MTSU Opens $8 Million OutdoorTennis Facility 

Officials cut the ribbon Feb. 1 to officially open MTSU’s $8 million Outdoor Tennis Complex at the corner of Middle Tennessee Boulevard and Greenland Drive on campus. The new facility later hosted the CUSA Men’s Tennis Championships April 20–21. 

We were adamant that to truly be a mainstay on a national stage, we needed to develop an advanced facility capable of meeting all the competition and practice needs of our teams, one that would not only be the best in the conference but would rival any programs in the region. 

This state-of-the-art facility serves as the on-campus home of the men’s and women’s tennis programs, featuring locker rooms, spectator facilities for 250 Blue Raiders fans, eight new tennis courts, and coaches’ offices, among many other amenities. 

The locker rooms, offices, team lounge, and concession stand are located in the Allen Tennis Building, named for MTSU alum and entrepreneur Elizabeth Allen. 

Men’s Tennis Captures Fifth Straight CUSA Title 

Top-seeded and No. 34-ranked MTSU hosted No. 53 Liberty in 
the Conference USA men’s tennis championship in April, defeating the Flames 4-2 to earn its fifth straight conference title. It was the Blue Raiders’ fifth win of the season over a ranked team. 

Additionally, Leo Raquin (left) was named both the 2024 CUSA Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, while Jimmy Borendame earned his fifth CUSA Coach of the Year honor. Jakub Kroslak was tabbed CUSA Freshman of the Year. 

Four Blue Raiders were named to the CUSA Singles First Team: Raquin, Marcel Kamrowski, Kroslak, and Demis Taramonlis. 

Ondrej Horak was named to the CUSA Singles Second Team, while all three starting doubles teams earned a spot on one of the two All-Conference Doubles Teams. Horak/Raquin and Javier Cueto Ramos/Kamrowski made the First Team, while Kroslak and Shu Matsuoka were recognized on the Second Team.  

Women’s Basketball Star Takes Top CUSA Honors 

Following a perfect 16-0 Conference USA regular season, MTSU basketball player Savannah Wheeler (right) was tabbed CUSA Player of the Year, while center Anastasiia Boldyreva (right) was named CUSA Defensive Player of the Year. 

Wheeler also earned the 2023–24 Michael L. Slive Female Athlete of the Year, announced by the league office. She is the fifth player under Coach Rick Insell to receive a conference Female Athlete of the Year accolade and the fourth Blue Raider named CUSA Athlete of the Year. 

Wheeler, a graduate student from Kentucky, became just the ninth Blue Raider overall tabbed as a conference player of the year and the third to be named CUSA Player of the Year. She also brought home First Team all-league honors. 

Boldyreva, a junior from Russia, burst onto the scene and established herself as one of the top rim protectors in the nation. She led the league and ranked in the top five in the country 

in blocks. The junior also earned First Team All-Conference and All-Defensive Team honors 

Three other Lady Raiders earned All-Conference Second Team honors: Courtney Whitson, Jalynn Gregory, and Ta’Mia Scott. 

Lady Raiders Make Noise in NCAA Tournament 

The MTSU women’s basketball team secured the program’s first win in the NCAA Tournament since 2007 and then led defending national champion Louisiana State University at halftime in a second-round game. In the first-round 71-69 victory over the sixth- seeded University of Louisville, the Lady Raiders erased an 18-point first-half deficit to tie the fourth-largest comeback in NCAA Tournament history. 

Advancing against perennial power LSU, MTSU won the second quarter 21-12 to take a 36-32 lead into the locker room before falling to the Tigers on their home court, 83-56. The Lady Raiders finished with a 30-5 record. 

Left-Hander Alderman Tosses No-Hitter 

Freshman left-handed pitcher Chandler Alderman toed the rubber on March 23 trying to limit a Liberty offense that had produced an 11-run outburst in the series opener. With already 111 pitches under his belt and two outs in the seventh, Alderman fired a fastball by Liberty first baseman Brian McClellin for his 11th strikeout of the afternoon to keep a no-hitter intact. It was the crowning moment of the afternoon for Alderman, who rode that strikeout to the fourth no-hitter in program history in a 10-0 win in eight innings. 

Giesecke Named New Women’s Golf Coach 

Lauren Giesecke, a renowned women’s golf coach with nine years of head coaching experience, becomes just the fourth head coach in the MTSU women’s golf program history.

The Indiana University alumna comes to Murfreesboro from Grand Canyon University, where she served as head coach since 2015. Under Giesecke, GCU broke numerous Division I era program records in the 2022–23 season. The Lopes recorded 15 team tournament victories and 11 individual tournament titles during her tenure. 

In the team’s historic 2017–18 season, Giesecke earned WAC Coach of the Year honors, and the Lopes reached the NCAA Regional. In her final season with the Lopes, GCU finished third at the WAC Championship and won a D-I program-best five tournament titles. 

Games at Floyd Stadium for Coach Derek Mason’s inaugural season at MTSU: 

Saturday, August 31 vs. Tennessee Tech, 6 p.m. 
First Game of the Season 

Saturday, September 14 vs. WKU, 6 p.m. 
Family Weekend 

Saturday, September 21vs. Duke, 6 p.m. 
HOMECOMING 

Tuesday, October 15vs. Kennesaw State, 7 p.m. 
Faith and Family Night