Katy McCarter Named Recipient of 2024-25 Mountain West Hal Rothman Sportsmanship Award

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – New Mexico swimmer Katy McCarter and UNLV football player Jackson Woodard have been named the 10th and 11th recipients of the Mountain West’s Hal Rothman Sportsmanship Award.

Established in 2005-06 and renamed in honor of the late UNLV faculty athletics representative Hal Rothman in 2007, the Mountain West Hal Rothman Sportsmanship Award is presented to a student-athlete in a MW-sponsored sport who has distinguished him or herself through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. The student-athlete also must demonstrate good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting and be in good academic standing.

McCarter and Woodard were selected by the MW Recognition Committee, which is made up of athletics directors, senior woman administrators and faculty athletics representatives from around the league.

McCarter was a four-year swimmer for the Lobos, competing in the sprints and backstroke events. A senior from Fairbanks, Alaska, McCarter was an exceptional student, earning Academic All-MW honors four times in her career, and the consummate teammate. When she wasn’t swimming her own race, she was the first one to the side of the pool to encourage and cheer for her teammates. A testament to what a good sport she is, McCarter also routinely engaged in conversation with her opponents on the pool deck, getting to know them and wishing them luck before races and congratulating them on a great race after the competition. McCarter is the first women’s swimming student-athlete to win Hal Rothman Sportsmanship Award and the second New Mexico student-athlete, joining Habtom Samuel, who won last year.

Woodard, the 2024 MW Defensive Player of the Year and a two-time first-team Academic All-American, was a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year, given to the football player who has demonstrated leadership by exhibiting exceptional courage, integrity and sportsmanship both on and off the field. A vocal leader in the locker room and on the sideline, Woodard also led by example, showing up first to meetings and leaving the weight room last, as well as holding younger players to the same standards and mentoring them. Opposing coaches and officials routinely lauded his respectful demeanor, whether it was congratulating an opponent after a tough loss, helping a fallen player get up, celebrating a teammate’s success or picking up flags. The senior linebacker from Little Rock, Arkansas, who is currently battling for a spot on the Houston Texans’ 53-man roster, was also active in the Las Vegas community, spearheading youth clinics and volunteering with Meals on Wheels and in local schools. Woodard is the first UNLV student-athlete and the first football player to win the Hal Rothman Sportsmanship Award.

Past winners
2024-25: Katy McCarter, Swimming & Diving, New Mexico & Jackson Woodard, Football, UNLV
2023-24: Habtom Samuel, Men’s Track & Field, New Mexico
2013-14: Chari Hawkins, Women’s Track & Field, Utah State
2012-13: William Kent, Men’s Track & Field, Air Force
2011-12: Dalton Boatright, Men’s Fencing, Air Force
2010-11: Daniel Trapani, Men’s Fencing, Air Force
2008-09: Erin Lorenzen, Rifle, TCU
2007-08: Peter French, Men’s Fencing, Air Force
2006-07: Kevin Bretting, Men’s Swimming & Diving, Wyoming
2005-06: Katie Battazzo, Women’s Soccer, Utah

Note: Award may not be presented annually.