BATON ROUGE — Former LSU gymnast Ashleigh Clare-Kearney was chosen as one of nine finalists for the NCAA Woman of the Year award, the NCAA announced Wednesday.
A senior in 2009, Clare-Kearney became the first LSU student-athlete to be selected as a finalist for the prestigious award.
Committee representatives from NCAA member institutions and conferences initially selected 30 semifinalists from a pool of 132 student-athletes from Divisions I, II and III before selecting nine finalists ? three from each division.
“This is a great feeling,” Clare-Kearney said. “This is such an honor for me. It is unbelievable to be mentioned in the same sentence as the other student-athletes who are considered the best in the NCAA. Regardless of whether or not I receive this prestigious award, it is amazing and humbling to be recognized for everything I have done during my time at LSU.”
The other eight finalists are Amanda Blumenherst (Duke, golf); Julia Hopson (Fredonia State, track and field); Dani Huffman (Emory, volleyball); Venessa Lee (Pittsburg State, cross country/track and field); Tracy Menzel (Kenyon, swimming and diving); Lacey Nymeyer (Arizona, swimming and diving); Ashley Puga (Northwest Nazarene, cross country/track and field); and Kathleen Tafler (Grand Valley State, soccer).
The award will be presented October 18 at the annual awards banquet at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.
Clare-Kearney ended her career as a Tiger by winning two individual national championships as she claimed the NCAA vault national title and floor exercise national title at the NCAA Championships in Lincoln, Neb., in April.
“What an incredible way to cap off such a phenomenal career,” head coach D-D Breaux said. “For Ashleigh to be recognized nationally as one of the greatest student-athletes in the country in all sports is such an honor, not only for her but also for the LSU gymnastics program and Louisiana State University.”
Clare-Kearney was a first-team All-American on vault, bars and floor in 2009, and she was also named the 2009 Central Region Gymnast of the Year.
She served as Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) president in 2008-09 for LSU and was selected as a NACGC/W Scholastic All-American in 2008 and 2009.
“The NCAA Woman of the Year award is one of the highest and most respected awards bestowed upon an NCAA student-athlete,” said Judy Southard, LSU Senior Associate AD/Senior Woman Administrator. “Ashleigh’s recognition as one of only nine finalists demonstrates what a stellar career she enjoyed when compared to some of the brightest and most talented women in the nation. This is not only a tremendous personal achievement for her, but it is also extraordinary recognition for LSU and our outstanding gymnastics program.”
The NCAA Woman of the Year award honors senior student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.