FRISCO, Texas—For the second consecutive year, McNeese softball player Rylee Eyster has been awarded the Steve McCarty Citizenship Award, the Southland Conference announced today.  Eyster is the first Southland Conference female student-athlete to win the award multiple times since its inception and the sixth overall McNeese female student-athlete to win the award.

"We are incredibly proud of the impact Rylee has made in our softball program, our department, and our community," said Athletics Director Bridget Martin.
 
The Steve McCarty award was initiated during the 2005-06 season, which recognizes a male and female student-athlete who exhibit outstanding qualities in citizenship, sportsmanship, leadership and community service. The honor is named for the former Stephen F. Austin athletic director, who served at the school for 21 years, including 15 as athletic director. McCarty, an Alto, Texas, native, retired from SFA in 2005 and is a two-time graduate of the university. He also served as member of the SFA Board of Regents and the SFA Alumni Association's "Football Coaches Hall of Honor." McCarty was inducted into the Southland Conference Hall of Honor in 2006.
 
Eyster, a member of the 2026 Southland Conference Softball Tournament Championship team, is the third McNeese softball student-athlete to receive the honor in the last four years.  Former Cowgirl pitcher Whitney Tate was the female recipient in 2023 with Eyster winning the award also in 2025.

"I'm incredibly honored to receive this award for the second time," said Eyster.  "I'm forever grateful to McNeese, the Southland Conference, every coach, administrator, and all the student-athletes I've had the privilege to work alongside.  It's especially meaningful to be the first female student-athlete to receive this recognition twice."  As always- Geaux Pokes!!
 
This season, Eyster served as a squad leader on the softball team, guiding five other teammates as she led them through life's challenges in the sport, in the classroom, and in their daily lives.

Eyster's continuous drive, positive energy, and helping hand towards others impacted all members of the softball team, including the staff.
She was also honored with the Cowgirl Award by her teammates.  This award is presented to the softball player who truly is the driver of team culture, competitive nature, and overall, a standup human being. Rylee was also a leader on the field and in the dugout, constantly coaching up others in her position and teaching younger players what it truly means to be a McNeese Cowgirl.  

Off the field, Eyster is extremely involved in the community and extends herself in the classroom and in her faith. She is heavily involved in FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) and is unashamed to share her testimony and be the light among others. She has encouraged many of her teammates to take the walk into their faith as she has and been a leading voice on campus.

Among her other talents, Eyster served as an ESPN+ sideline reporter and an in-game announcer for multiple McNeese sports year-round and is very passionate about bringing a female voice to the space while uplifting other athletes.

This summer she is working with the Gumbeaux Gators as the voice of the team, rallying the community behind local talent.
In all, Eyster has completed over 218 hours of community service this year across many different organizations, which led the team and the athletic department.

Among the volunteering opportunities, Rylee was involved in the Lake Charles Little League, Buddy Ball for disabled children, multiple food drives and clothes drives for children.

The native of Southaven, Miss., Eyster received her Mass Communication degree in May and will continue her education at McNeese, serving as a Digital Media Graduate Assistant where she will be instrumental in helping the Digital Media and Marketing departments create content that will promote McNeese student-athletes and the athletics department across all social media platforms.

McNeese Steve McCarty Citizenship Female Student-Athlete Award Winners
2026- Rylee Eyster (Softball)
2025- Rylee Eyster (Softball)
2023- Whitney Tate (Softball)
2021- Grace McKenzie (Track and Field)
2013- Caitlyn Baggett (Women's Basketball)
2010-  Kiara Johnson (Women's Basketball)