2025 Gamecock Gala Award Winners Announced

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina Athletics held its annual Gamecock Gala on Monday, April 21, at Colonial Life Arena. The event honored the University’s top student-athletes for their accomplishments during the 2024-25 academic year.

Louise Rydqvist from women’s golf took home the top award of the night as the President’s Award winner. The highest honor bestowed by the Athletics Department, the award is given annually to one student-athlete in his/her final year of eligibility to recognize a career of extraordinary talent in athletics, scholarship, leadership and service. Rydqvist is a three-time All-American who most recently led the women’s golf team to its first SEC Championship since 2002, winning all three of her pairings in match play. Her career scoring average is on pace for the top three in program history. She is a double major in finance and marketing with a near-perfect grade point average, helping her win SEC Women’s Golf Scholar Athlete of the Year honors twice. A four-year member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Rydqvist’s community service includes work with Gamecock Games, Cocky’s All-Sports Camp and Special Olympics.

Male Athlete of the Year went to football’s LaNorris Sellers who was the Football Writers’ Association of America National Freshman Offensive Player of the Year and an All-SEC selection. The SEC Freshman of the Year was a Blanchard-Rogers Trophy finalist, and his 65.6 pass completion percentage was the seventh-best in program history. His last-season excellence helped the Gamecocks to a 9-4 record and a No. 19 final ranking, the program’s best final rank since 2013.

Track and field’s JaMeesia Ford was the Female Athlete of the Year after picking up the SEC Indoor Championships 200m title for the second time in as many seasons. She went on to take bronze in the event at the NCAA Indoor Championships. She grabbed All-America status twice in that national meet, earning first-team honors in the 200m and second-team honors in the 4x400m. Ford also scored points for the Gamecocks in the SEC Indoor Championships by helping the 4x400m relay take second and the distance medley relay group to bronze.

2025 GAMECOCK GALA AWARD WINNERS:
H. Boyd McWhorter Scholarship – Female: Louise Rydqvist (Golf)
H. Boyd McWhorter Scholarship – Male: Liam Kerns (Swimming and Diving)
Brad E. Davis Outstanding Community Service – Female: Taylor Fox (Soccer)
Brad E. Davis Outstanding Community Service – Male: Jacobi Wright (Basketball)
Dodie Academic MVP Award: Raven Johnson (Women’s Basketball)
New Student-Athlete of the Year: Kyle Kennard (Football)
Female Freshman of the Year: Joyce Edwards (Basketball)
Male Freshman of the Year: Devan Crumpton (Track and Field)
Female Scholar Athlete of the Year: Ellie Ruprich (Volleyball)
Male Scholar Athlete of the Year: Dylan Targgart (Track & Field)
Team Impact Award: Women’s Swimming and Diving
Gamecock Leadership Award: Paige Collins (Women’s Swimming and Diving)
Gamecock Inspiration Award: Jack Carman (Men’s Swimming and Diving)
Female Athlete of the Year: JaMeesia Ford (Track and Field)
Male Athlete of the Year: LaNorris Sellers (Football)
President’s Award: Louise Rydqvist (Women’s Golf)