BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Cumberlands (Ky.) men's soccer student-athlete Bruno Garcia has been named the 2024-25 Mid-South Conference Male Student-Athlete of the Year, MSC officials announced on Tuesday.
The Mid-South Conference Male Student-Athlete of the Year award is presented to a graduating student-athlete and selected based on academic and athletic performances, leadership qualities, and their demonstration of the five core character values of the NAIA. Pinnacle Financial Partners sponsors the Mid-South Conference Student-Athletes of the Year award.
Garcia is a three-time All Mid-South Conference performer, including being named the MSC Men's Soccer Defensive Player of the Year in 2023. He earned NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors -- reserved for student-athletes with at least a 3.5 grade point average -- two times and Academic All MSC twice.
"I’m incredibly honored to be named MSC Male Student-Athlete of the Year," Garcia said. "Balancing athletics and academics has taught me discipline, resilience, and purpose. Competing on the field while pursuing a degree has shown me that excellence in one area fuels the other.
"It’s about becoming well-rounded and ready for the next challenge, whether in sport, life, or career," Garcia added.
Garcia helped the Patriots to the Mid-South Conference Tournament championship and to the program's first-ever NAIA National Semifinals in 2024. He started 11 games for a Cumberlands squad that produced a 15-3-3 record. The central defender helped the Patriots' defense limited the opposition to just 1.33 goals per game.
"Bruno was the team captain and a centerpiece in the team dynamics, not only on the field with his exceptional qualities and versatility, but also in the locker room with his natural ability to lead others – and I am certain without him those things would not have happened," Cumberlands men's soccer coach Paulo Neto said. "Bruno demonstrates irreproachable dedication and commitment – on the field and in the classroom. He is respectful and willing to sacrifice for the benefit of the group. I am positive these qualities will follow Bruno wherever he goes, whether in the academic, athletic, or professional realm."
"Bruno performed four years of scholarship with a high level of dedication, discipline, and determination," Associate Professor of the Hutton School of Business and Plaster Graduate School in Business, C.R. Tan said. "In addition, he earned superior praise from his classmates and professors for demonstrating many outstanding characteristics such as integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership. All in all, he lives the NAIA core values."
Garcia graduated Summa Cum Laude in May. He earned the Dr. Edward L. Hutton School of Business Finance Award and the J. T. Vallandingham Scholastic Honor Society in 2025.
"This award means a lot to me," Garcia said. "It reflects not just my own efforts, but the unwavering support from my coaches, professors, teammates, friends, and especially my family. They’ve pushed me to grow not just as an athlete and student, but as a person."