Schluntz Named NCAA Woman of the Year

In the twenty year history of the NCAA Woman of the Year Award, swimmers have claimed the honor ten times.  In the past four years, Arizona swimmers have brought it home three times, that latest being Justine Schluntz who was Woman of the Year Sunday evening at the annual event ceremony in Indianapolis at the Indiana Convention Center.

The award honors female student-athletes who have completed their eligibility, demonstrated academic and athletics excellence while demonstrating extraordinary community service and leadership.

Schluntz becomes the third Arizona women’s swimmer in the last four seasons to win the honor, joining former teammates Whitney Myers and Lacey Nymeyer who each won the award in 2007 and 2009, respectively. UA, which also had Tanya Hughes of Track and Field take the honor in 1994, has more Woman of the Year recipients than any other university.

Schluntz, who is currently studying as a Rhodes Scholar in England, flew back for the ceremony and was joined by her family, head coach Frank Busch and director of athletics Greg Byrne.

A committee of representatives from NCAA schools and conferences selected nine finalists from a pool of 30 selected honorees. Those individuals were identified from an initial pool of 131 conference and independent honorees representing all three NCAA divisions and multiple sports.

The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics selected Schluntz as the national winner.

A native of Albuquerque, Schluntz is the seventh swimming student-athlete to be named NCAA Woman of the Year. Arizona is also the only Pac-10 school ever to have won the honor.

Schluntz is a five-time NCAA National Champion and was named to the Pac-10 First Team All-Academic Team three consecutive years. A 16-time NCAA All-American, she helped Arizona win the 2008 Division I women’s team championship.

After suffering a season-ending injury her freshman year, Schluntz began to mentor younger athletes and get involved in community service.  She volunteered for Big Brothers/Big Sisters for two years, taught swim lessons to children and volunteered with Casa de los Ninos, an organization that seeks to prevent child abuse and neglect by offering services that promote child safety and family stability, in which she spent time with children and helped distribute Christmas gifts.

Schluntz is currently researching the viability of harnessing tidal energy from the oceans to use as a renewable resource in Oxford, England. In July, she was named as ESPN The Magazine’s University division Academic All-American of the year presented by CoSIDA. The University of Arizona presented Schluntz with the Robie Medal at commencement, which is given to a student who exhibits “promise for the future.”

In addition to being named Athletics Academic Champion and Distinguished Scholar, she was named the Athletics Valedictorian at Arizona.

Former NCAA Woman of the Year Winners

2009 – Lacey Nymeyer - Swimming, University of Arizona
2008 - Nkolika Anosike - Basketball, University of Tennessee
2007 - Whitney Myers - Swimming, University of Arizona
2006 - Anne Bersagel -Cross Country/Track, Wake Forest University
2005 - Lauryn McCalley - Diving, University of Tennessee
2004 - Kelly Albin - Lacrosse, University of California, Davis
2003 - Ashley Jo Rowatt - Swimming and Diving, Kenyon College
2002 - Tanisha Silas - Track and Field, UC-Davis
2001 - Kimberly A. Black - Swimming, University of Georgia
2000 - Kristy Kowal - Swimming, University of Georgia
1999 - Jamila Demby - Track and Field, UC-Davis
1998 - Peggy Boutilier - Lacrosse and Field Hockey, Virginia
1997 - Lisa Ann Coole - Swimming and Diving, University of Georgia
1996 - Billie Winsett-Fletcher - Volleyball, Nebraska
1995 - Rebecca Lobo - Basketball, University of Connecticut
1994 - Tanya Hughes - Track and Field, University of Arizona
1993 - Nnenna Lynch - Cross Country and Track and Field, Villanova
1992 - Catherine Byrne - Swimming and Diving, Tennessee
1991 - Mary Beth Riley - Track and Field, Canisius College