STANFORD, Calif. -- Stanford’s Simone Manuel, Missy Franklin of California, Leah Smith from Virginia and Louisville’s Kelsi Worrell are the four nominees for the Honda Sports Award for swimming & diving as announced by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) today.
The Honda Sports Award is presented annually by the CWSA to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA- sanctioned sports and signifies “the best of the best in collegiate athletics”. The winner of the sport award becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious 2015 Honda Cup. The nominees were chosen by a panel of experts and coaches representing the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA).
The Honda Sports award winner for swimming & diving will be announced next week after voting by administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools. Each NCAA member institution has a vote.
Honda Sports award winners will be presented with the honor during on-campus presentations throughout the year and all Honda Sports award winners become a finalist for the prestigious 2015 Honda Cup award which will be presented on June 29, in a live televised broadcast from L.A.
Manuel, a freshman from Sugar Land, Texas, set an American record to win the national title in the 100-yard freestyle leading from start to finish. She also captured the 50-yard freestyle and became the first swimmer from Stanford to win both freestyle events in the same year since 1993.
A member of two NCAA winning relay teams, she anchored the 400-yard freestyle relay which set an American record. A seven-time All-American, she helped Stanford to third place overall at the NCAA Championship and also added two individual titles at the Pac-12 Championships.
Five Honda Sports Awards winners for swimming & diving have gone on to win the prestigious Honda Cup- Tara Kirk (Stanford, 2004), Cristina Teuscher (Columbia, 2000), Mary T. Meagher (Cal Berkeley, 1987), Tracy Caulkins (Florida, 1984 &1982) and Jill Sterkel (Texas, 1981).
THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for 39 years, recognizing superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service. Since commencing its sponsorship in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.0 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs at the institutions.
Manuel is the 29th finalist from Stanford. Felicia Lee won the swimming and diving Honda Sports Award in 2014.
