Junior linebacker Greg Jones pushes to get past Wildcat offensive lineman Al Netter late in the fourth quarter of the Spartans 24-14 victory over Northwestern on Oct. 17 in Spartan Stadium. Jones would end the game with 14 tackles, two of which were sacks.
Recognized for their excellence on the playing field last season, MSU football linebacker Greg Jones and field hockey midfielder Floor Rijpma were named the George Alderton Male and Female Athletes of the Year, MSU announced Monday.
The award is given to the top male and female Spartan athlete at the end of each year.
Jones, a junior last season, led the Big Ten and finished third in the nation in tackles last year with 154. His nine sacks put him in fifth place in the conference as well.
Prior to being named MSU’s top male athlete, Jones already was chosen as a first-team All-American, first-team All-Big Ten member, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the year and won the Linebacker Trophy as the best linebacker in the country according to College Football Performance Awards. Jones enters the 2010 season as a first-team Sporting News preseason All-American.
One of the best scorers in Spartan field hockey history, Rijpma finished her career as a two-time first-team National Field Hockey Coaches Association All-American.
In her final season at MSU, Rijpma was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, with 24 goals and four assists, and made the All-Big Ten first team. She also led the Spartans to their first outright Big Ten regular-season championship and the Big Ten Tournament Championship in 2009.
For a full list of award winners, go to msuspartans.com
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