Conference Carolinas Celebrates Six NCAA Woman of the Year Nominees
GREENVILLE, S.C. - Conference Carolinas celebrated six NCAA Woman of the Year nominees on Monday. The nominees are Grace McCartney and Sarah Wicker of Barton, Anna Davis of Belmont Abbey, Julie Gast of Lees-McRae and Raigan Evans and Amanda Hamrin of UNC Pembroke.
To be eligible for the award, nominees must have competed and earned a varsity letter in an NCAA-sponsored sport, have earned her undergraduate degree no later than the summer 2023 term and have a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade-point average of 2.50 on a 4.0 score.
In 2023, a record-breaking 619 female student-athletes were nominated by NCAA member schools and the nominees represented 24 different sports with 264 nominees in Division I, 128 in Division II and 227 nominees in Division III with an average GPA of 3.76.
A women’s tennis student-athlete for the Bulldogs, McCartney graduated with an undergraduate degree in business administration and health promotion as well as a master of business administration in strategic leadership. The Thames, New Zealand native earned a 3.87 GPA as a standout performer for Barton while also volunteering as a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) in which she coordinated the department's Make-A-Wish campaigns. She was also a first-year seminar peer leader, helped coach elementary and middle school students and worked in the YMCA after-school program.
Wicker, a women’s volleyball student-athlete for Barton, also graduated with a 3.87 GPA with a degree in healthcare administration and a minor in business. The Claremont, North Carolina native is the President of Young Life in Wilson County which provides fun, adventurous, life-changing and skill-building experiences while introducing kids to Jesus Christ and building lasting friendships. She served in student government, was a member of SAAC, the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and was a resident assistant on campus. A finalist for the 2023 Conference Carolinas Murphy Osborne Award, the six-foot middle hitter finished her career with 60 kills and 42 blocks while hitting .221 for the Bulldogs.
A three-time All-Conference Carolinas selection and open toss champion in acrobatics & tumbling, Davis graduated with a 3.99 GPA in supply chain management. A native of Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, Davis was involved in numerous volunteer activities during her collegiate career including participating in Wreaths Across America, Hashtag Lunchbag, Stowe Family YMCA Trunk or Treat and Operation Christmas Child. Davis was also a three-time National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA) All-Academic honoree.
A softball student-athlete for the Bobcats, Gast graduated with a 3.84 GPA as a pre-physical therapy major with a minor in athletic coaching. The Taylorsville, North Carolina native was the 2023 Conference Carolinas softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Murphy Osborne Award Finalist and a Herff Jones Female Athlete of the Year nominee. She is also a two-time Conference Carolinas All-Tournament team selection, helped Lees-McRae to the tournament title in 2019 and earned All-Defensive honors at shortstop in 2023. In addition to her prowess in the classroom and on the field, Gast also volunteered in numerous capacities including being involved in SAAC, Student-Athlete Leadership Team (SALT), Habitat for Humanity, Beech Humanity Trunk or Treat and a peer ally mental health ambassador. She finishes her career as a .314 hitter with 124 runs and 104 RBIs with 46 doubles and 12 home runs.
A native of Robersonville, North Carolina, Evans graduated with a 3.47 GPA as a Social Work major. An indoor and outdoor track & field student-athlete for the Braves, Evans was a three-time Field Athlete of the Year, three-time All-Region weight throw honoree and earned recognition in the hammer and discus in 2023. She was a two-time conference champion, four-time runner-up and three-time third-place finisher. Evans also volunteered her time at Service for the Blind, W.O.M.A.N. service organization, Vertical Church and the Southeastern Community Action Partnership.
The 2023 Conference Carolinas individual medalist, two-time All-Conference Carolinas All-Tournament and All-Conference Carolinas selection, Hamrin graduated with a 4.0 GPA in business administration with a concentration in management and a masters in business administration. A native of Vasteras, Sweden, Hamrin was the 2023 Conference Carolinas women’s golf Elite 23 honoree and a three-time Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American Scholar. She also spent time volunteering in various ways including as the President of SAAC, Tri-Warriors, UNCP Move-In volunteer, a Make-A-Wish volunteer and as a teacher assistant at Braves Buddies.
Later this month the NCAA will announce the conference award winners and the top 30 honorees will be released in October. The nine finalists will be announced in November with the 2023 NCAA Woman of the Year being celebrated at an awards ceremony at the NCAA Convention in Phoenix in January.