Three Swimmers, Including Paralympian, In NCAA Woman of the Year Top 30

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, August 20. AN impressive list of 455 student-athletes in the running for the NCAA Woman of the Year was whittled down to 30 finalists today, as the NCAA released its list of the Top 30 Woman of the Year nominees.

Three swimmers are on the list. Two of them come from Division II schools, while one participated at the Division III level. Swimming has a rich tradition with this award, as six swimmers have won the award since it was introduced in 1991.

On this year’s list is Cortney Jordan, whose week was already starting on a high note as a three-time world champion at the International Paralympic Committee’s world championships. Jordan competed at Division III school California Lutheran University, where she was a member of the school’s conference team. According to the NCAA, Jordan is the first disabled athlete to make it into the Top 30 selection. She works as ambassador through the U.S. Paralympic Committee to inspire disabled children to be athletes and promote opportunities available to them.

Kayla Shull, who was fifth in the 100 back at the Division II NCAA championships, graduated from Clarion University of Pennsylvania with a perfect 4.0 grade point average with a degree in speech pathology and audiology. The Clarion Athletics website notes that Shull is the second aquatic sports athlete from Clarion to make the Top 30 distinction. In 2007, diver Jamie Wolf was part of this list.

Caitlin Brauer graduated this May with a Master’s degree in accounting after four years at The College of Saint Rose in Albany, N.Y., and was the first female to represent the school at the Division II swimming and diving championships. She finished her career with seven school records, including a 4:25.05 in the 400 IM, and a couple of top-eight finishes at the championship meet.

The Woman of the Year list of 30 will be cut to nine finalists — three from each NCAA division — on September 11. The Woman of the Year will be named October 20. The initial list of 455 nominees consisted of female student-athletes completing their senior years, and the Top 30 have a 3.79 cumulative grade point average and more than 100 NCAA All-American athletic and academic honors.

Full list of NCAA Woman of the Year Top 30:

Amy Anderson, North Dakota State University (Golf)
Brigetta Barrett, University of Arizona (Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field)
Lauren Boudreau, Nova Southeastern University (Rowing)
Caitlin Brauer, The College of Saint Rose (Swimming and Diving)
Olivia Collado, St. Edward’s University (Soccer)
Elena Crosley, Bowdoin College (Field Hockey)
Torey DeLozier, Maranatha Baptist Bible College (Basketball, Softball, Volleyball)
Becky Dru, Stanford University (Field Hockey)
Elizabeth Duffy, Concordia University, St. Paul (Volleyball)
Michelle Favre, Ramapo College (Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field)
Stephanie Green, Christopher Newport University (Lacrosse)
Kaaren Hatlen, Pacific Lutheran University (Softball)
I-Hsuan (Annie) Hwang, Brigham Young University, Hawaii (Tennis)
Cortney Jordan, California Lutheran University (Swimming and Diving)
Jacqueline Kalin, University of Northern Iowa (Basketball)
Grace Krauser, Wingate University (Volleyball)
Nachelle Mackie, Brigham Young University (Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field)
Kelly Majam, University of Hawaii, Manoa (Softball)
Monica Malavassi, University of West Florida (Soccer)
Alexandra Maseko, Seton Hall University (Basketball)
Shelly Milks, Lynchburg College (Field Hockey)
Ifeatu Okafor, Texas Tech University (Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field)
Ashley Priess, University of Alabama (Gymnastics)
Kayla Shull, Clarion University of Pennsylvania (Swimming and Diving)
Julia Sizek, University of Chicago (Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field)
Bridgett Soares, Long Island University/LIU Post (Lacrosse)
Emily Stankaitis, Susquehanna University (Lacrosse)
Lya Swaner, East Texas Baptist University (Softball)
Nekesha Whitaker, Clark Atlanta University (Cross Country, Outdoor Track and Field)
Amanda Winslow, Florida State University (Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field)

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