Three Swimmers Among Final 30 for NCAA Woman of the Year Award

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, August 27. THIRTY women, selected from a group of nearly 430 nominees, have been chosen as the top 30 honorees for the NCAA Woman of the Year award.

The top 30 women are composed of 10 honorees from each NCAA division and span various NCAA sports. In September, three finalists will be chosen from each division to form nine finalists for the award. The 2012 Woman of Year will be announced and the top 30 women will be honored during an Oct. 14 ceremony in Indianapolis.

The top 30 honorees reflect the pillars of the Woman of the Year award, with outstanding achievements in academics, athletics, community service and leadership. For example:

* Cumulatively, the top 30 earned a 3.87 grade-point average and more than 90 Academic All-America honors.

* The top 30 earned nearly 20 national championships (individual and team) and nearly 110 All-America honors.

* The top 30 volunteered for more than 375 organizations during their college careers.
Many served as team captains and held leadership positions in various campus and community organizations.

Alecia Shields-Gadson of Coppin State, NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee chair, described the extraordinary commitment to academics and athletics by each of the top 30 honorees.

“Being an NCAA student-athlete takes dedication to both academic and athletic excellence,” said Shields-Gadson, who will chair the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee starting next month. “These women rose to that challenge and became leaders on the court, in the classroom and in their communities. The Woman of the Year honorees are excellent role models and will most certainly continue to make a positive impact on the world.”

The top 30 honorees are listed below.

2012 NCAA WOTY TOP 30

Name Division Conference Institution Sport(s)

Hillary Bach I Pac-12 Conference Arizona State University Softball
Chyna Balonick II Independent Humboldt State University Cross Country
Sharwil Bell III Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Rhodes College Basketball
Simone Childs-Walker III Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Carleton College Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field
Christie Hope II Great Lakes Valley Conference University of Wisconsin, Parkside Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field
Grace Collins II Sunshine State Conference Barry University Softball
Margo Cramer III New England Small College Athletic Conference Middlebury College Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field
Margaux Farrell I Big Ten Conference Indiana University, Bloomington Swimming and Diving
Danielle Foxhoven I West Coast Conference University of Portland Soccer
Kate Griewisch II South Atlantic Conference Lenoir-Rhyne University Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field
Stacey Hagensen III Northwest Conference Pacific Lutheran University Softball
Jazmyne Hefflefinger I Mid-Eastern Athletic Conf. Delaware State University Bowling
Kristin Hoffman I Mid-American Conference Northern Illinois University Volleyball
Kendra Huettl II Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Minnesota State University, Mankato Softball
Glory Johnson I Southeastern Conference University of Tennessee, Knoxville Basketball
Rebecca Kamp III Michigan Intercol. Ath. Assn. Calvin College Volleyball
Kelsey Kittleson III Iowa Intercol. Athletic Conf. Luther College Softball
Lopez Mimendi Sofia II South Atlantic Conference Lincoln Memorial University Cross Country, Tennis
Christina Muir II Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Ferris State University Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field
Sarah Jane Otey III New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference U.S. Coast Guard Academy Rowing, Swimming and Diving
Brooke Pancake I Southeastern Conference University of Alabama Golf
Alexi Pappas I The Ivy League Dartmouth College Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field
Elizabeth Phillips III University Athletic Association Washington University (Missouri) Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field
Verena Preikshas II Independent California State University, Stanislaus Tennis
Tanya Schmidt I West Coast Conference Santa Clara University Volleyball
Carol Cayo Smith III Northern Athletics Conference Milwaukee School of Engineering Basketball, Tennis, Outdoor Track and Field
Neely Spence II Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field
Alisa Vereshchagin III North Coast Athletic Conference Kenyon College Swimming and Diving
Rebecca Wade I Conference USA Rice University Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track
Anne Wethe II California Collegiate Athletic Association University of California, San Diego Soccer

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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