At the conclusion of the state finals, the IHSAA Executive Committee presents an award for mental attitude to an outstanding senior participant in the boys soccer state tournament. The recipient of this award, who was nominated by his principal and coach, must excel in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability in soccer. The award is named in honor of Mr. Cato, who served the IHSAA as its fifth commissioner from 1983 to 1995. During his tenure, boys and girls soccer became the 19th and 20th sports to be sponsored by the IHSAA. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, IHSAA corporate partner, presents a $1,000 scholarship to the school in the name of the recipient.
| Year |
Name |
School |
| 1994-95 |
Tory Harris |
North Central (Indianapolis) |
| 1995-96 |
Greg Gotwald |
Washington |
| 1996-97 |
Zack Schaub |
Washington |
| 1997-98 |
Andrew Crouch |
Washington |
| 1998-99 |
Cyle Graber |
Washington |
| 1999-00 |
Matthew Abbott |
Penn |
| 2000-01 |
Pat McBride |
Castle |
| 2001-02 |
Matt Lovell |
Brownsburg |
| 2002-03 |
Kent Melchiors |
Evansville Memorial |
| 2003-04 |
Dan Fox |
Carroll (Fort Wayne) |
| 2004-05 |
Ryan Tunis |
Fort Wayne Canterbury |
| 2005-06 |
Robert Bercovitz |
North Central (Indianapolis) |
| 2006-07 |
Zachary Carr |
Carmel |
| 2007-08 |
Mitchell Day |
Evansville Memorial |
| 2008-09 |
Trev Wilgus |
Evansville Memorial |
| 2009-10 |
Harrison Petts |
Zionsville |
| 2010-11 |
Scott Smyth |
Warsaw |