The NCAA News - News & Features

Woman of the Year state-level winners announced

The award honors outstanding female student-athletes who have excelled in academics, athletics and community leadership.

The state winners were selected by a special committee chaired by former NCAA President Judith M. Sweet, director of athletics at the University of California, San Diego.

The 51 state-level winners, selected from 333 entries, include 32 student-athletes from Division I, 12 from Division II and seven from Division III. The student-athletes participated in 13 of the 17 sports in which women compete for NCAA championships. The field includes several NCAA individual champions or members of championship teams.

State winners who were members of NCAA championship teams include Michelle Marciniak, University of Tennessee, Knoxville (1996 NCAA Division I women's basketball champion); Jennifer M. Rizzotti, University of Connecticut (1995 NCAA Division I women's basketball champion); and Marya Morusiewicz, Barry University (1995 NCAA Division II volleyball champion).

Individual champions include Annette Salmeen, University of California, Los Angeles (1996 NCAA Division I swimming 200 butterfly champion), and Kristi Kloster, University of Kansas (1996 NCAA Division I indoor track 800-meter champion).

The NCAA Woman of the Year will be selected by the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics from among 10 finalists. The winner will be announced at an awards dinner October 6 at the Westin Crown Center Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri.

Last year, basketball player Rebecca Lobo from the University of Connecticut was honored as the Woman of the Year. Previous winners include: 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 -- Amy S. DeVasher -- Swimming and diving -- University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

Alaska -- April Blajeski -- Rifle -- University of Alaska Fairbanks

Arizona -- Jennifer A. Dalton -- Softball -- University of Arizona

Arkansas -- Nika Harmon -- Soccer, cross country, track and field -- Hendrix College

California -- Annette Salmeen -- Swimming and diving -- University of California, Los Angeles

Colorado -- Kelly A. Cobb -- Basketball -- University of Denver

Connecticut -- Jennifer M. Rizzotti -- Basketball -- University of Connecticut

Delaware -- Lesley Etherson -- Tennis -- Delaware State University

District of Columbia -- Joline Staeheli -- Cross country, track and field -- Georgetown University

Florida -- Marya Morusiewicz -- Volleyball -- Barry University

Georgia -- Kathleen Nichole (Nikki) Nicholson -- Volleyball -- University of Georgia

Hawaii -- Dianna C. Cervantes -- Cross country -- University of Hawaii, Manoa

Idaho -- Tricia Bader -- Basketball -- Boise State University

Illinois -- Susan Edwards -- Basketball -- Western Illinois University

Indiana -- Lisa Barg -- Tennis -- Ball State University

Iowa -- Tricia Wakely -- Basketball -- Drake University

Kansas -- Kristi Kloster -- Cross country, track and field -- University of Kansas

Kentucky -- Tina Johnson -- Diving -- University of Kentucky

Louisiana -- Kristy Savoie -- Gymnastics -- Louisiana State University

Maine -- Darcy Storin -- Cross country, track and field -- Bowdoin College

Maryland -- Michele Mohlman -- Field hockey, basketball, lacrosse -- Goucher College

Massachusetts -- Mary Alice Brady -- Track and field -- Boston College

Michigan -- Cherokee Hoaglund -- Basketball -- Adrian College

Minnesota -- Amy Doherty -- Track and field -- University of St. Thomas

Mississippi -- Kimberly A. Curry -- Cross country, track and field -- University of Southern Mississippi

Missouri -- Ginny Hoefer -- Cross country, track and field -- Northeast Missouri State University

Montana -- Carla Beattie -- Basketball -- University of Montana

Nebraska -- Billie Winsett -- Volleyball -- University of Nebraska, Lincoln

Nevada -- Judith Fraser -- Cross country, track and field -- University of Nevada, Las Vegas

New Hampshire -- Nathalie Geeris -- Soccer -- Franklin Pierce College

New Jersey -- Sylvia Watson -- Volleyball -- Seton Hall University

New Mexico -- Elena Shadrina -- Basketball -- Western New Mexico University

New York -- Jodi Carter -- Field Hockey -- Syracuse University

North Carolina -- Sharon C. Moore -- Field hockey, lacrosse -- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

North Dakota -- Jenni Rademacher -- Basketball -- North Dakota State University

Ohio -- Katie Smith -- Basketball, track and field -- Ohio State University

Oklahoma -- Stacy Coffey -- Basketball -- Oklahoma State University

Oregon -- Robin Unger -- Track and field, volleyball -- Portland State University

Pennsylvania -- Jill Atshuler -- Lacrosse -- Lehigh University

Rhode Island -- Meribah Dean -- Volleyball -- Bryant College

South Carolina -- Michelle Graham -- Volleyball, basketball -- University of South Carolina, Spartanburg

South Dakota -- Siri Johnson -- Softball -- Augustana College

Tennessee -- Michelle Marciniak -- Basketball -- University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Texas -- Jennifer Clarkson -- Basketball -- Abilene Christian University

Utah -- Angie Bandy-Donahue -- Basketball, track and field -- University of Utah

Vermont -- Astri Syse -- Skiing -- University of Vermont

Virginia -- Samantha Salvia -- Field hockey -- Old Dominion University

Washington -- Michelle L. Church -- Softball -- University of Washington

West Virginia -- Kelly Hindman -- Soccer, basketball -- Bethany College

Wisconsin -- Arlene Meinholz -- Track and field, basketball -- University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire

Wyoming -- Lynn Carlson -- Swimming -- University of Wyoming