The NCAA News - News and Features

September 1, 1997

NCAA announces state-level Woman of the Year winners

NCAA Woman of the Year award winners representing each state were announced August 26.

The award honors outstanding student-athletes who have excelled in not only athletics but academics and community leadership as well.

A national winner will be selected by the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics from among 10 finalists. The winner will be announced at an awards dinner sponsored by Rawlings October 19 at the Westin Crown Center Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Woman of the Year award honors woman student-athletes from NCAA institutions who have excelled in the collegiate environment beyond their athletics pursuits with academic achievements and community involvement.

More than 400 student-athletes were nominated for this year's award based on their academic, athletics and community-service pursuits.

The 51 state-level winners include 25 student-athletes from Division I, 12 from Division II and 14 from Division III. The state honorees represent 14 of the 17 sports in which women compete for NCAA championships, including rowing, in which the NCAA conducted its inaugural championship in 1997.

Included in the state honorees were members of NCAA championship teams in skiing, Division III lacrosse and Division I softball.

The state winners also include a disabled athlete for the first time. Joyce Luncher of Catholic University was a varsity participant for the swim team as well as a member of the 1996 U.S. Paralympic Team, for which she won more medals than any other Paralympic athlete. She received four gold medals and three silver medals.

A committee composed of representatives from NCAA schools reviewed the nominees to select the state honorees. Judith M. Sweet, director of athletics at the University of California, San Diego, chaired the committee. Ten finalists, from whom the national honoree will be chosen, will be announced later this month.

Last year, volleyball player Billie Winsett-Fletcher of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, was honored as Woman of the Year. Previous winners are: 1995 -- Rebecca Lobo, basketball, University of Connecticut; 1994 -- Tanya Hughes, track and field, University of Arizona; 1993 -- Nnenna Lynch, track and cross country, Villanova University; 1992 -- Catherine Byrne, swimming, University of Tennessee, Knoxville; and 1991 -- Mary Beth Riley, track and field, Canisius College.

NCAA Woman of the Year state-level honorees

State -- Winner -- Sport -- Institution

Alabama -- Meredith P. Willard -- Gymnastics -- University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

Alaska -- Elena Tkacheva -- Gymnastics -- University of Alaska Anchorage

Arizona -- Leah Marie O'Brien -- Softball -- University of Arizona

Arkansas -- Megan Flowers -- Cross country, track and field -- University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

California -- Kimberly S. Haskell -- Soccer -- University of California, Davis

Colorado -- Narcisa Sehovic -- Skiing -- University of Denver

Connecticut -- Cheryl Simmons -- Field hockey -- Sacred Heart University

Delaware -- Carol J. Marquez -- Tennis -- Delaware State University

District of Columbia -- Joyce Luncher -- Swimming -- Catholic University

Florida -- Casey Jo Custer -- Track and field -- Florida State University

Georgia -- Lisa Ann Coole -- Swimming -- University of Georgia

Hawaii -- Angelica Ljungquist -- Volleyball -- University of Hawaii, Manoa

Idaho -- Lynne Hyland -- Volleyball -- University of Idaho

Illinois -- Julie Anne Roe -- Basketball -- Millikin University

Indiana -- Jennifer Renola -- Soccer -- University of Notre Dame

Iowa -- Jennifer Ann Peters -- Cross country, track and field -- Loras College

Kansas -- Belinda Ann Hope -- Track and field -- Kansas State University

Kentucky -- Christina R. Brown -- Cross country, indoor and outdoor track -- Western Kentucky University

Louisiana -- Becky Ann Gibbs -- Swimming -- Louisiana State University

Maine -- Kara Jean Patterson -- Cross country, outdoor track -- Colby College

Maryland -- Rachel A. Barnes -- Lacrosse, field hockey -- College of Notre Dame

Massachusetts -- Kirsten S. Paquette -- Indoor and outdoor track -- Williams College

Michigan -- Betsy J. Haverkamp -- Cross country, track and field -- Calvin College

Minnesota -- Rebekah R. Ormsby -- Cross country, indoor and outdoor track -- Augsburg College

Mississippi -- Ta'Mika R. Roddy -- Cross country, indoor and outdoor track -- Jackson State University

Missouri -- Kirsten Bernthal -- Volleyball -- Truman State University

Montana -- Greta V. Koss -- Basketball -- University of Montana

Nebraska -- Shelly L. Bartlett -- Gymnastics -- University of Nebraska, Lincoln

Nevada -- Marianne Vallin -- Tennis -- University of Nevada, Las Vegas

New Hampshire -- Lori Monroe -- Tennis, track and field -- Colby-Sawyer College

New Jersey -- Lisa R. Giaconia -- Cross country, track and field -- St. Peter's College

New Mexico -- Heather Lynn Turner -- Basketball -- Western New Mexico University

New York -- Katherine B. Maynard -- Volleyball, softball -- State University College at Potsdam

North Carolina -- Susan Stogner -- Volleyball, basketball -- Lenoir-Rhyne College

North Dakota -- Kasey Morlock -- Basketball -- North Dakota State University

Ohio -- Stacey Williams -- Soccer, track and field, basketball -- Wilmington College

Oklahoma -- Jenny Bramer -- Basketball, track and field -- University of Oklahoma

Oregon -- Jessica L. Trippet -- Basketball -- Portland State University

Pennsylvania -- Sara A. Bloom -- Rowing -- Bucknell University

Rhode Island -- Amy Schauble -- Softball -- Rhode Island College

South Carolina -- Jessica Nora Nixon -- Swimming -- University of South Carolina, Columbia

South Dakota -- Ann Sieckert -- Volleyball -- Augustana College

Tennessee -- Tracy Margaret Bonner -- Swimming and diving -- University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Texas -- Natasha W. Taylor -- Basketball -- West Texas A&M University

Utah -- Christl Hager -- Skiing -- University of Utah

Vermont -- Amy DiAdamo -- Lacrosse, soccer -- Middlebury College

Virginia -- Erin Hamm -- Soccer -- Randolph-Macon College

Washington -- Virginia Bolenbaugh -- Gymnastics -- Seattle Pacific University

West Virginia -- Kristin Ann Quackenbush -- Gymnastics -- West Virginia University

Wisconsin -- Wendy L. Wolff -- Softball -- University of Wisconsin, Parkside

Wyoming -- Jesseca H. Cross -- Basketball, track and field -- University of Wyoming