Arizona’s Justine Schluntz Lauded Pac-10 Woman of the Year

WALNUT CREEK, California, June 25. COMMISSIONER Larry Scott has announced that University of Arizona swimmer Justine Schluntz was named the 2010 Pac-10 Conference Woman of the Year. Schluntz moves on to become a candidate for the NCAA Woman of the Year honor. The NCAA Woman of the Year Award honors graduating student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, community service and leadership.

A native of Albuquerque, N.M., Schluntz graduated with a mechanical engineering degree, boasting a 3.94 grade point average and is currently at UA pursuing a master's degree. In the fall, Schluntz is headed to Oxford University as one of 32 U.S. students to be awarded a Rhodes Scholarship this year and will be studying fluid dynamics and renewable energy source.

The ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA At-Large Academic All-America of the Year, Schluntz was a finalist for the Walter Byers Scholarship and NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, was named the Pac-10 Women's Swimming Scholar-Athlete of the Year and was a recipient of the Tom Hansen Conference Medal award.

In the pool, Schluntz has been among the top swimmers in the country. At this year's NCAA Championships in West Lafayette, Ind., she scored points for Arizona in a team-high seven events (50 free, 100 free, 100 back, 200 free relay, 400 free relay, 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay), en route to Arizona's fourth-place finish. In her four seasons swimming for UA, Schluntz's teams finished first in 2008, second in 2007, third in 2009 and fourth in 2010 at NCAA's.

Schluntz swam the anchor leg for both the 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay in 2010, leading the Wildcats to claim the national championships in both those events. Over her career, Schluntz was a part of six national championship-winning events. Additionally, Arizona won the team NCAA Championship in women's swimming in 2008. In both championship-winning relays from 2009, Schluntz was a part of, and still holds, American and NCAA records in the 200 free relay and 400 medley relay.

Schluntz logged over 70 hours helping many Tucson, Ariz. organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tucson. Among the numerous community service organizations with which she has volunteered, she was a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), helped distribute Christmas gifts with the Casa de los Niños organization, taught Sunday School classes at Canyon Del Oro Baptist Church, and participated in Jim Click Run ‘N' Roll, a fundraiser for the University of Arizona's adaptive athletics program for disabled athletes.

Schluntz is the fifth female student-athlete and the second-consecutive, third overall, Arizona swimmer to win the Pac-10 Woman of the Year. Previous winners were: Lacey Nymeyer, ARIZ (2009); Arianna Lambie, STAN (2008); Whitney Myers, ARIZ (2007); Kate Richardson, UCLA (2006).

Also Nominated: Rachael Axon, OSU; Keshia Baker, ORE; Shalina Clark, USC; Kelly Dyer, OSU; Allison Hillgren, USC; Carly Janiga, STAN; Danielle Lawrie, WASH; Juliana Murcia, ASU; Kaitlin Sather, UCLA.

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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