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:

2015

Kristin Day

Swimming and Diving

Clarion University

2014 Elizabeth Tucker Soccer University of Notre Dame 2013 Ifeatu Okafor Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Texas Tech University

2012

Elizabeth Phillips

Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field

Washington University in St. Louis

2011

Laura Barito

Swimming and Diving, Outdoor Track and Field

Stevens Institute of Technology

2010

Justine Schluntz

Swimming and Diving

University of Arizona

2009

Lacey Nymeyer

Swimming and Diving

University of Arizona

2008

Nkolika Anosike

Basketball

University of Tennessee

2007

Whitney Myers

Swimming and Diving

University of Arizona

2006

Anne Bersagel

Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field

Wake Forest University

2005

Lauryn McCalley

Swimming and Diving

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

2004

Kelly Albin

Lacrosse

University of California, Davis

2003

Ashley Jo Rowatt

Swimming and Diving

Kenyon College

2002

Tanisha Silas

Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field

University of California, Davis

2001

Kimberly A. Black

Swimming and Diving

University of Georgia

2000

Kristy Kowal

Swimming and Diving

University of Georgia

1999

Jamila Demby

Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field

University of California, Davis

1998

Peggy Boutilier

Lacrosse and Field Hockey

University of Virginia

1997

Lisa Ann Coole

Swimming and Diving

University of Georgia

1996

Billie Winsett Fletcher

Volleyball

University of Nebraska

1995

Rebecca Lobo

Basketball

University of Connecticut

1994

Tanya Hughes

Indoor and OutdoorTrack and Field

University of Arizona

1993

Nnenna Lynch

Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field

Villanova University

1992

Catherine Byrne

Swimming and Diving

University of Tennessee

1991

Mary Beth Riley

Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field

Canisius College