JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Mary Northcutt (Hunstville, Ala.) of the Carson-Newman swim team has been nominated for the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year Award.
Rooted in Title IX, the NCAA Woman of the Year Award was established in 1991 to recognize graduating female student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.
The alumna's senior year saw her qualify for the NCAA Swimming and Diving National Championships as both an individual and relay team member. Northcutt played a pivotal role in helping C-N secure All-American honors in the 200-yard medley relay.
Northcutt also secured a bronze medal for the Eagles in the 200-yard medley relay at the Bluegrass Mountain Conference Championships.
The BMC also recognized Northcutt with two BMC Female Swimmer of the Week Awards this season.
Specific highlights of Northcutt's final campaign in Mossy Creek includes her swim in the 100-yard breaststroke in a time of 57.16 at the University of Tennessee Invitational, the fourth-fastest time in program history. The final day of the UT Invitational saw her swim the 100-yard freestyle in 51.86, a lifetime best.
Northcutt was named to the College Swimming Coaches Association of America's All-American Team. She was also honored as a member of the College Sports Information Directors of America's Academic All-America Team for the third time, a program record. Lastly, the CSCAA placed Northcutt on the Scholar All-American team for the spring.
The exercise science major finished her undergraduate courses with a flawless 4.00 GPA. She will further her education at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where she plans to pursue her doctorate in physical therapy.
The 605 nominees represent all three NCAA divisions, including 259 nominees from Division I, 126 from Division II and 220 from Division III. Nominees competed in 24 sports, with multisport student-athletes accounting for 128 of the nominees.
Member schools are encouraged to honor their top graduating female college athletes each year by submitting their names for consideration for the Woman of the Year Award. Schools can recognize two nominees if at least one is a woman of color or international student-athlete.
Conference offices will select up to two nominees each from their pool of member school nominees. All nominees who compete in a sport not sponsored by their school's primary conference, as well as associate conference nominees and independent nominees, will be considered by a selection committee. Then, the Woman of the Year selection committee, made up of representatives from the NCAA membership, will choose the Top 30 honorees — 10 from each division.
From the Top 30, the Woman of the Year selection committee will determine the top three honorees in each division and announce nine finalists. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics then will choose the 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year, who will be named this fall.
