Lenoir-Rhyne's Griewisch Named Finalist for NCAA Woman of the Year
Lenoir-Rhyne University's Kate Griewisch has been named one of the nine finalists for the 2012 NCAA Woman Of The Year. The award will be announced at a ceremony on Sunday, October 14, in Indianapolis.
INDIANAPOLIS -- Lenoir-Rhyne University's Kate Griewisch has been named one of the nine finalists for the 2012 NCAA Woman Of The Year. The award will be announced at a ceremony on Sunday, October 14, in Indianapolis.
Finalists were selected based on academic achievement, athletics excellence and dedication to community service and leadership. Three women from each NCAA division were chosen.
The nine finalists are among 30 Woman of the Year honorees who will be honored during the event.
[RELATED: Complete NCAA Woman of the Year release]
The pool of 30 emerged from a group of nearly 430 nominees. It includes 10 honorees from each NCAA division who represent a range of NCAA sports.
Griewisch, a native of Banner Elk, N.C., earned NCAA Division II All-American honors seven times in three different sports: women's cross country (2009-11), indoor track and field (2012) and outdoor track and field (2011-12).
In women's cross country, Griewisch has won the past three NCAA D-II Southeast Regional races (2009-11) and was named the 2009 and 2011 South Atlantic Conference Runner Of The Year.
Griewisch also led L-R to back-to-back league titles in 2008 and 2009 and is a three-time SAC Women's Cross Country Scholar-Athlete Of The Year.
Griewisch finished fourth in the 5,000-meter women's finals en route to All-American accolades this past March at the 2012 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field National Championships in Mankato, Minn.
In outdoor track and field, Griewisch earned All-American honors in the 10,000-meter championship the past two years and garnered AA laurels in the 5,000-meter finals as well in May at the D-II Outdoor Finals in Pueblo, Colo. Griewisch finished third and fourth in the 10K and 5K championship races, respectively, this year.
Griewisch's success on the track won her 2011 and 2012 United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) D-II Indoor and Outdoor Southeast Region Women's Athlete-Of-The-Year honors.
In addition, Griewisch was named female recipient of the 2010-11 South Atlantic Conference Presidents Award and was selected the 2011-12 SAC Female Athlete Of The Year.
An outstanding student as well, Griewisch graduated this past May with a bachelor's degree in biology and a 3.85 grade point average. Griewisch is also a two-time Capital One CoSIDA Academic All-America (2011-12) selection including first-team honors this year and has been named to the school's Dean's List.
Griewisch is a four-year member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and served as President of Chi Beta Phi, a math and science honor society. In addition, Griewisch created an elementary school Science Olympiad and served on Lenoir-Rhyne's Student Government Association's Treasury Committee.
"My experience as a scholar, an athlete and a leader on campus and the community have reminded me of my blessings and helped form who I am," said Griewisch.
2012 NCAA Woman Of The Year Finalists
Hillary Bach, Arizona State
Grace Collins, Barry
Kate Griewisch, Lenoir-Rhyne
Kelsey Kittleson, Luther
Sarah Jane Otey, Coast Guard
Brooke Pancake, Alabama
Alexi Pappas, Dartmouth
Elizabeth Phillips, Washington-St. Louis
Verena Preikschas, California State Stanislaus
- Lenoir-Rhyne media relations