OSU soccer: Mustang native Jaci Jones named Big 12 Sportsperson of the Year

STILLWATER — Oklahoma State soccer player and Mustang native Jaci Jones was named the Big 12 Sportsperson of the Year, becoming the first OSU athlete to receive the honor.

The Big 12 Sportsperson of the Year awards began in 2001 to annually recognize student-athletes who displayed an extraordinary level of sportsmanship, community service and academic achievement. A male and female award winner is chosen by the conference each year with the winners selected by a media panel.

A four-year standout at midfielder for the Cowgirls, Jones was an all-conference and all-region performer who helped OSU to a pair of Big 12 championships. Jones capped her career by leading the Cowgirls with 26 points on seven goals and 12 assists as a senior. Her 12 assists led the conference and ranked 10th nationally.

Jones served as an OSU team captain for three years and was a positive and passionate influence. Through OSU soccer camps and games, she developed a special bond with the young daughter of a former Cowgirl soccer player who tragically lost her father.

During the 2019 Big 12 Soccer Championship, the girl’s club team was playing at a youth tournament in Kansas City, and Jones organized with the OSU coaches to take the Cowgirl team to see the girl and her team and cheer them on during one of their tournament games.

An active participant in the community, Jones has volunteered for countless events and activities during her time at OSU, including Tim Tebow Foundation Night to Shine, Coaches vs. Cancer, Stillwater Soccer Club, Sangre Ridge Elementary School cleanup, Payne County United Way, Stillwater Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Feed the Children, Thanksgiving Food Drive, Cleats 4 Kids, Angel Tree and the N7 Youth Movement Field Day.

Jones also served as the OSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee President, Vice President and Community Service Chair. She was the co-director of the Cowboy Choice Awards and was the Vice President of Love Through Loss.

Additionally, Jones served as a guest speaker for numerous organizations including Mustang Public Schools, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Celtic Youth Soccer Club, Newcastle Middle School, St. Louis Youth Soccer Club and the Apex Goalkeeper Institute.

In the classroom, Jones was a three-time Academic All-Big 12 first team member. A nutritional sciences major with a focus on dietetics, she was named to the United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-West Region Second Team in 2019 and has also been named to the OSU President’s and Dean’s Honor Rolls multiple times while earning the OSU Academic Achievement Award four times.

Jones played in 82 games during her OSU career, including 72 as a starter, and racked up 18 goals and 24 assists. She ranks fourth on the Cowgirls’ all-time list in assists.

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