Our 4 Mustang Champions for September highlight two upperclassmen and two freshman that embody the SMU Student-athlete experience and strive to be World Changers.
Mayu Inokawa
Mayu is a midfielder on our Women’s Soccer team and is no stranger to adversity. Originally from Japan, her journey as an SMU transfer student-athlete started with her acclimating to the Hilltop after spending time in the Midwest. Now as a senior, she has dealt with adversity this Fall soccer season but has not let it bring her down; she still persists through every day with a positive attitude and smile on her face. She has been just as supportive of her teammates during this season. She is extremely dedicated and hardworking student who takes advantages of the resources and opportunities provided in the ADSA and LAB events. She is a role model to all student-athletes, but especially her teammates!
Brandon Booker
Brandon, a freshman linebacker, has had a strong start to his academic pursuits at SMU! He has come into his first semester as natural leader. No only does he consistently show up early but he also encourages his teammates to always put their best academic foot forward. ADSA appreciates that he advocated for himself during his first semester regarding his academic goals, needs, and desires. We are excited to see his growth continue!
Sage Sungail
Sage is a junior on the Men’s Swimming and Diving team. He specializes in the freestyle and holds the conference record in 2024 for the 400 Free relay. Katie Evans, his ADSA academic counselor, had this to say about Sage, “ I’m incredibly proud of him for his dedication to both academics and athletics. As a Finance major, he’s challenging himself with a rigorous course load while also excelling on the swim team. His hard work in the classroom and in the pool is a testament to his commitment and drive. It’s inspiring to see him excel in both areas, and I’m excited to watch him continue to succeed.”
Emma Mehner
Meet Emma Mehner! She is a freshman rower who joined the Hilltop from Dresden, Germany in Fall 2024! She joined SMU to become a better coxswain, a type of rowing positon in which sits at the stern and steers the boat (learn more about coxswain here). Emma is already making strides towards success during her first semester. She started getting involved with the Life After Ball program, in her first few weeks here and has enjoyed the possibilities/opportunities it can provide. She plans on majoring in Business Management or Sports Management. It is great to see Emma’s dedication to her academic and personal development!
It’s easy to see why our Mustangs shine so bright when we have these four student-athletes leading the charge!