LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Head Coach Rob Baarts has added a key piece to the 2021 Aggie squad, as former Mississippi State Bulldog Madison Rust has committed to join the Aggies for the spring season in 2021.

"We are very excited to add Madison to our Aggie family," Baarts said. "She has played in a very competitive youth club in San Diego for Rebels SC and comes from Mississippi State. Madison is a competitive, ball-playing center back that will help bring depth, quality and stability to our back line."

The sophomore from Lakeside, Calif., is a former Grossmont Valley League Player of the Year during her senior year at El Capitan High School. Rust was also named First Team All-League in her junior and senior year at El Capitan and was awarded Best Midfielder honors as a sophomore. Rust led El Capitan to three Grossmont Valley League Championships. In her high school career, she tallied 48 goals in 58 games. 

During her time at El Capitan, Rust was a member of the golf team where she led the team to three Grossmont Valley League championships. Rust was named the team MVP as a senior and the most-improved golfer as a sophomore.

Rust was also a member of the Rebels Soccer Club in San Diego where she helped the Rebels to a USYL National Championshp and a Far-West Regional title in 2018. The Rebels were 2017 and 2019 California Regional League champions and won the Cal-South Championship in 2017.

Off the field, Rust was named to the 2019-20 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll. She was an eight-time member of the Principal's Honor Roll at El Capitan maintaining a stellar 3.9 GPA. In her senior year, Rust was voted student body president and vice president of her senior class. 

Madison is the daughter of Steven and Corina Rust. She has two twin sisters, Hailee and Kailee, Her uncle, Larry, ran track at Chico State and her cousin, Tanner, was a member of the Aggie football program in 2009 and 2010 and a member of Aggie baseball from 2011-2013 before he signed a Minor League contract with the Baltimore Orioles. 

Rust is majoring in Kinesiology during her time at NM State.