The NCAA has announced that Loni Burton, a former swimming student-athlete from California State University Bakersfield, and Stephanie Sutton, a former diving student-athlete from Clarion University, have been named the Division II Most Outstanding Swimmer and Diver over the past 25 years in NCAA championship competition, respectively. The honor was bestowed in conjunction with the NCAA’s celebration surrounding the 25th Anniversary of Women’s Championships.

In 2005, Burton became just the second swimmer in NCAA history to win 12 individual titles, setting a Division II record for most titles won in a career. Burton won NCAA titles in the 50-yard freestyle (2003, 2004 2005), 100-yard freestyle (2003, 2004, 2005), 200-yard freestyle (2003, 2004, 2005) and the 100-yard butterfly (2003, 2004, 2005). Burton also established NCAA records in the 50-, 100- and 200-yard freestyle and the 100-yard butterfly. She was named the NCAA Division II Swimmer of the Year for three consecutive years (2003, 2004, 2005) and is the only Division II swimmer to win three consecutive College Swimming Coaches of America Swimmer of the Year awards.

Burton was a three time nominee for the Honda Broderick Award for NCAA Division II women’s swimming and a 20-time All-American. She was a 2004 U.S. Olympic trials qualifier. As a student-athlete at Cal State Bakersfield, Burton was named to the dean’s list and was a member of the

Student Athletic Advisory Committee. Burton graduated with a degree in criminal justice and is currently working toward a master’s degree.

Sutton won four NCAA Division II diving titles in the one-meter and three-meter competitions during her career at Clarion. In 2000, she won both the one- and three-meter diving titles as a junior. She returned as a senior in 2001 and swept both diving competitions again. As a freshman and sophomore in 1998 and 1999, Sutton finished in second place on both boards. She ended her outstanding career as an eight-time All-American and a two-time Division II Diver of the Year.

Sutton was awarded Clarion’s Female Athlete of the Year award in both 2000 and 2001. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in science.

In 1981, the NCAA began sponsoring women’s championships, which opened the door to increased athletic and academic opportunities for female athletes. Today, the NCAA sponsors 44 women’s championships in 20 sports, providing more than 150,000 women with an opportunity to compete for national titles each year.

An NCAA expert panel selected the Most Outstanding Student-Athletes in the sport of swimming and diving. The panel, which consisted of current and former coaches; athletics administrators; sports information directors and coaches association members, used historical data and championship results to make their decision.