South Carolina Gamecocks Gala: Who brought home the awards?

The Gamecock Gala was on Monday night, and many of the South Carolina Gamecocks from all across the athletic department descended upon Colonial Life Arena dressed to the nines to see who among them would be taking home trophies at the end of the night.

The Gamecock Gala is held each school year, so Monday's event was in honor of the 2023-2024 academic calendar, though, spring sports like baseball, softball, track, and others have not yet finished their seasons.

The proceedings were hosted/emceed by South Carolina volleyball's Oby Anadi and South Carolina basketball point guard Ta'Lon Cooper (previously the host of the wildly successful "Ta'Lon Tuesday" social media campaign), and Anadi and Cooper helped facilitate and announce awards for athletes and teams across fall, winter, and spring sports.

The Gamecock Gala award-winners are listed below:

The President's Award: Ayana Akli, Women's Tennis
Male Athlete of the Year: Xavier Legette, Football
Female Athlete of the Year: Kamilla Cardoso, Women's Basketball
H. Boyd McWhorter Scholarship-Female: Ayana Akli, Women's Tennis
H. Boyd McWhorter Scholarship-Male: Kai Kroeger, Football
Brad E. Davis Outstanding Community Service-Female: Emilia Reutimann, Equestrian
Brad E. Davis Outstanding Community Service-Male: Daniel West, Swimming and Diving
Dodie Academic MVP Award: Junior Saint Juste, Men's Soccer
New Student-Athlete of the Year: Te-Hina Paopao, Women's Basketball
Female Freshman of the Year: MiLaysia Fulwiley, Women's Basketball; JaMeesia Ford, Track and Field
Male Freshman of the Year: Collin Murray-Boyles, Men's Basketball
Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Skylar Allen, Beach Volleyball
Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk, Men's Basketball; Anass Essayi, Track and Field
Team Impact Award: Women's Soccer Team
Gamecock Leadership Award: Oby Anadi, Indoor Volleyball
Gamecock Inspiration Award: Hannah Mackenhausen, Beach Volleyball
Class Clown: David Cromer, Baseball
Best Dressed: Emerson Madonia, Equestrian

Ayana Akli (Women's Tennis) and Kai Kroeger (Football) are nominated as the South Carolina Gamecocks representatives for the H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship Award. One female athlete and one male athlete in the SEC will win the honor and a $20,000 post-graduate scholarship. The other nominees will be awarded a $10,000 post-graduate scholarship.

Emilia Reutimann (Equestrian) and Daniel West (Swimming and Diving) are the South Carolina Gamecocks representatives for the Brad E. Davis Outstanding Community Service Award. One female athlete and one male athlete in the SEC will win the honor and a $10,000 post-graduate scholarship. The other nominees will be awarded a $5,000 post-graduate scholarship.