The Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association announced Thursday that Liberty University swimmer Bethany Kennon (Egg Harbor City, N.J.) is the CCSA Woman of the Year for 2013-14.
The CCSA Woman of the Year Selection Committee voted Kennon the winner among the four candidates nominated for the award. The Committee used criteria of Service and Leadership (including community service, campus activities and leadership positions), Academic Achievement, Athletics Excellence and a Personal Statement from each candidate. As the Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association Woman of the Year, Kennon is nominated as a candidate for the national NCAA Woman of the Year award.
Kennon was a 10-time All-Conference performer during her four-year career for the Lady Flames -- a three-time honoree in the 100-yard butterfly, a three-time honoree as a member of Liberty’s 800-yard freestyle relay team, and all-conference in the 400-yard medley relay and 400-yard freestyle relay teams. Kennon earned Conference Championships in the 100-yard butterfly in 2012 and was a member of Liberty’s Conference Championship team in 2014.
A Sport Management major, she served as Liberty’s SAAC President this past year and has been a SAAC member since her freshman season. She served as a volunteer timer and presented awards at the Special Olympics Swimming events (2010-11), and was involved with Linkhorn Elementary All Sports Reading Night, where she read to the students (2012). She collected canned food to donate to a local shelter as part of the Trick-or-Treat so Others-Can-Eat campaign (2011-13) and the Give Your Threads to the Daily Bread – Clothing Drive (2012-14). In addition, she served as the team captain on Liberty’s 2013-14 CCSA Championship team and the Lead for the Team Bible Study group. Kennon graduated with a 3.46 GPA and was a two-time CCSA All-Academic Honoree, while receiving the Academic Excellence Award on three occasions.
The NCAA Woman of the Year Selection Committee will determine the top 10 and top three honorees in each division by considering specific guidelines. The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics will also use the same guidelines when selecting the 2014 award winner. All honorees receive an NCAA certificate and are included in press announcements. The top 10 honorees and the nine finalists from Divisions I, II and III will be honored and the 2014 NCAA Woman of the Year winner announced at a dinner in Indianapolis on Oct. 19, 2014.
