A total of 33 athletes from Swimming & Diving programs have been nominated for the 2016 NCAA Woman of the Year Award. Among the most notable names are Kesli Worrell, Courtney Bartholomew and Faith Johnson. Worrell won NCAA (Div 1) titles in the 100 and 200 fly this season, while Bartholomew finished in the runner-up position in both the 100 and 200 back, and Johnson won a silver medal as part of Tennessee’s 200 free relay. The complete list of Swimming & Diving nominees are as follows:
- Rachael Acker, University of California, Berkeley
- Blake Balogh, Boise State University
- Courtney Bartholomew, University of Virginia
- Ellen Bradford, US Naval Academy
- Bonnie Brandon, University of Arizona
- Claire Brandt, Texas A&M University, College Station
- Hayley Cardinal, Lawrence University
- Patricia Castro-Ortega, Queens University of Charlotte
- Melissa Dean, Pacific Lutheran University
- Olivia Dilorati, Colorado College
- Kelsey Gouge, Florida Southern College
- Margaret Guo, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Emily Hyde, Amherst College
- Faith Johnson, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- Emily Jordan, Notre Dame of Maryland University
- Amanda Lucia, Wagner College
- Rebecca Matthews, Lynn University
- Kara McCormack, University of Miami (Florida)
- Kirsten Nitz, Wheaton College (Illinois)
- Whitney Paine, Bates College
- Krysta Palmer, University of Nevada, Reno
- Anna Partridge, Smith College
- Madeleine Pesch, Grinnell College
- Cathleen Pruden, Mount Holyoke College
- Samantha Richart, University of Toledo
- Melissa Ross, University of Richmond
- Sarah Sheridan, Hope College
- Clare Slagel, Luther College
- Lauren Slayton, Clarion University of Pennsylvania
- Amy Taylor, University of North Florida
- Haley Townsend, Kenyon College
- Lauren Wheeler, Austin College
- Kelsi Worrell, University of Louisville
Each NCAA team can nominate one female student-athlete who has completed their eligibility. These nominations go to each team’s respective conference, who then reviews the nominees and submits their pick to the NCAA. The NCAA then narrows the list down to 30 (10 from each NCAA division), and then down to nine (3 from each division). The winner is announced at the annual NCAA Woman of the Year awards dinner in the fall.
The award is given based on criteria of academic achievements, athletics excellence, community service and leadership.
Two of the nominees, Hayley Cardinal and Rebecca Matthews are multi-sport athletes. Cardinal, who went to school at Lawrence University, competed in outdoor track & field along with swimming. Matthews, who attended Lynn University, also competed in cross country running.
Swimming & Diving athletes have won this award 11 times since it began in 1991, the most of any sport.
Past winners of the award: