Clarion’s Kristin Day Named ‘Finalist’ for NCAA ‘Woman of the Year’

INDIANAPOLIS, In.  – The 2015 NCAA Woman of the Year Award Finalists were named today – and Clarion University’s highly decorated diver Kristin Day (Reynoldsville/DuBois) is one of only 9 finalists for the highly coveted award which will be announced on October 18 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Day, a three-time NCAA Division II National Champion diver in her career, graduated from Clarion in May with a perfect 4.0 gpa while completing 153 credits. She earned a degree in Chemistry with a concentration in Biochemistry. She is current enrolled in medical school at LECOM on an NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship.

As one of the Top 9 Finalists, Day becomes the third Clarion University student-athlete to become a “Finalist” for the NCAA Woman of the Year, which represents female student-athletes from all three NCAA Divisions. Day joins Kayla Shull in 2013 and Dr. Jamie Wolf (Jackel) 2007 as finalists for the award. Clarion, who is the only PSAC school to have a Top 9 Finalist in the history of the award, now has three.

The NCAA W.O.T.Y. Top 9 Finalists are:

• Kristin Day/Clarion – swimming and diving (the only honoree to earn a perfect GPA in college)
• Supriya Davis/Swarthmore College – swimming and diving
• Margo Geer/University of Arizona – swimming and diving
• Kelsey Graham/Wheaton College (Illinois) – soccer
• Margaret MacPhail/DePauw University – tennis
• Colleen Quigley/Florida State University – cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field
• Zoe Scandalis/University of Southern California – tennis
• Taylor Skala/Rockhurst University – soccer; basketball
• Rebecka Surtevall/Arkansas Tech – golf

“This is a great honor for Kristin as we celebrate her success and recognize her today,” said Clarion President Dr. Karen M. Whitney. “Being named a finalist for NCAA Woman of the Year shines a bright light on her outstanding accomplishments in the classroom and as a national champion diver. She is the epitome of Courageous. Confident. Clarion. And we are Clarion Proud today.”

The finalists were selected from a group that started with more than 480 nominees. That number was reduced to 30 on September 3^rd, before today’s announcement.
“This is so exciting to get this far,” said Day. “I’m really honored to be chosen as a finalist for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award. I have had a great experience at Clarion both in the classroom and in diving. I can’t thank everyone at Clarion enough for the opportunities I have received and the lessons I have learned,” Day continued. “I want to say special thanks to Dave Hrovat, my coach, who pushed me and prepared me in ways that I have never been before. I learned what sportsmanship really means, and how to deal with both victory and defeat. It has prepared me well for my future. I would also like to thank my parents and my grandparents for their love and support, and for being there for me every step of the way.”

“What a great honor for Kristin,” said Clarion athletic director Dave Katis. “We are proud of her both in the classroom and in diving – this honor shows what a model student-athlete she was during her career.”

“It was an honor and a pleasure to work with Kristin all four years,” said Clarion diving coach Dave Hrovat. “She was a committed, talented and dedicated scholar-athlete who has a character and maturity and that belie her age. We are truly Clarion proud today.”

Day, who is currently attending medical school at LECOM (Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine) on an NCAA Post-Graduate scholarship, is one of the most decorated athletes that have ever attended Clarion. Named in July as the Capital One NCAA D-II Academic all-America of the Year, she was a two time At-Large Academic All-America of the Year (2015, 2014), the PSAC Pete Nevins Scholar Athlete of the Year, the NCAA D-II “Elite 89” award winner at swimming nationals, a three-time NCAA Division II National Champion and 8-time career All-American. She won the NCAA D-II one meter national title this year (2015) with 506.85 points, while finishing 4^th on 3 meter 512.20 points. In 2014 she won both NCAA championships in dominating fashion. She won the 3 meter springboard title setting a new NCAA record with 539.35 points, winning the event by 52.9 points. She followed that with a 1 meter national title scoring 497.05 points, winning by 30.2 points. For her efforts she was named the CSCAA NCAA D-II Female “Diver of the Year”.

Kristin finished third on the three meter board with 491.70 points and 5^th on 1 meter with 449.90 points in 2013. In 2012 she was second on three meter scoring 484.75 points and fourth on one meter scoring 495.70 points.

Day, a May, 2015 graduate with a degree in Chemistry and a concentration in Biochemistry, earned 153 credits at Clarion University with a perfect 4.0 gpa. She is the daughter of Dennis and Susan Day of Reynoldsville, Pa., Kristin is a 4-time Clarion and PSAC Scholar Athlete, plus a two-time Spring Top 10 PSAC award winner.

The NCAA WOTY Top 9 Finalists: