LSC Communications
West Texas A&M duo Benjamin Azamati and Shanna McBroom were selected as the 2021 Lone Star Conference Male and Female Athletes of the Year, respectively. The awards were announced Thursday following a vote of the league’s sports information directors.
WT’s Azamati captured LSC top male athlete distinction after a record-breaking track and field campaign, while the Lady Buffs’ McBroom earned female athlete of the year acclaim following a national championship softball season.
Azamati claimed the men’s award ahead of Oklahoma Christian golf star Trevor Norby, while McBroom was chosen as the top female in front of Lubbock Christian basketball standout Allie Schulte.
Azamati concluded his record-breaking year at the 2021 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships with gold in the 100 and 200-meters while running the anchor leg on the 4×100-meter relay that finished second for a meet-high 22 points. Azamati posted six all-time marks in the sprints, including the NCAA DII and LSC records in both the 100 (9.97) and 200 (20.13).
The sprinter from Akim Oda, Ghana, became the first Buff to win an indoor national title running away from the field in the 60-meter dash (6.60) at the 2021 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships. He broke the LSC All-Time and Championship records in the 60 and 200-meters and is also the fifth-fastest DII performer in those events.
Azamati was named LSC Indoor and Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year and LSC Indoor and Outdoor Outstanding Track Athlete along with U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) South Central Region Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Year and Division II Outdoor National Track Athlete of the Year distinction.
Azamati is now preparing for the Tokyo Summer Olympics where he will represent Ghana in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay.
McBroom wrapped up her illustrious career by leading the Lady Buffs to the 2021 NCAA DII Softball Championship. She claimed LSC Player of the Year, D2 CCA South Central Regional Player of the Year, Schutt Sports/NFCA DII Player of the Year, and NFCA DII Catcher of the Year honors.
The senior from Sachse, Texas, led DII in stolen bases (35), runs scored (71) and triples (8), while ranking second in hits (80). She hit .426 with 13 doubles and seven home runs to drive in 37 runs for a .691 slugging and .478 on-base percentage. On defense, McBroom started every game behind the plate and posted a .981 fielding percentage to earn LSC Golden Glove recognition.
In her five-year career, McBroom started 213 games behind the plate and ranks in the Top 10 in program history in hits, triples, home runs, at-bats, runs and game played.
LONE STAR CONFERENCE ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
Year Male
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
Year Female
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