University of Wisconsin-Superior’s Svenja Ruehl is among a record field of 581 women nominated for the 2018 NCAA Women of the Year.
Ruehl, a member of the Yellowjacket track and field team, is one of 199 nominees from NCAA Division III and six from the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference.
The NCAA Woman of the Year Award honors graduating female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.
In Ruehl's final season as a Yellowjacket, she posted career high numbers in indoor and outdoor track and field. She was the top 'Jacket in the 100-meter dash with 12.81 seconds, and was the best long and triple jumper, marking season-high distances, including 5.57 meters in the long and 11.65 meters in the triple.
Nominees represent all three NCAA divisions, a total of 20 sports were represented and a record 170 multi-sport athletes are among the nominees.
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The UMAC will announce in the coming weeks the conference's selection for the honor who will move on to the next pool of nominees from conferences.
From there, the Woman of the Year selection committee will choose the top 30 honorees which includes 10 women from each division. From the top 30, three from each division will be announced as finalists in September.
The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics chooses the final winner, which will be announced Oct. 28 at the annual award ceremony in Indianapolis.
Joining Ruehl on the nomination list from the UMAC are:
- Jackie Doering, Northwestern (basketball, volleyball).
- Kira Grev, Martin Luther (volleyball)
- Casey Hovland, St. Scholastica (cross-country, indoor and outdoor track and field
- Nicole Moldstad, Bethany Lutheran (soccer, tennis)
- Cassidy Valenzuela, Crown College (soccer, softball).
NOTES: Ruehl, a senior last track season, is from Kirchvers, Germany, and is majoring in business administration.
