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New Mexico's Maja Kovacek Named as Finalist for NCAA Woman of the Year Award
Former Lobo All-American among 121 individuals nominated
Oct. 23, 2006 INDIANAPOLIS---Former New Mexico standout Maja Kovacek is one of 30 conference finalists for the NCAA Woman of the Year award, it was announced today by the national office. The prestigious award - in its 16th year - honors outstanding female student-athletes who have excelled in academics, athletics and community leadership, and have completed their collegiate athletics eligibility. Kovacek carried a double major in psychology and sociology while completing an outstanding tennis career with the Lobos. She played at the No. 1 position in singles and doubles for most of her career and became the only two-time all-America selection in New Mexico women's tennis history. A two-time MWC Player of the Year and four-time all-MWC honoree, she was nationally ranked in singles play four straight years at UNM. A native of Pula, Croatia, Kovacek earned Academic all-MWC accolades in each of her four years and was one of only eight regional winners for the Arthur Ashe Sportsmanship & Leadership Award. She was also named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic all-district second team following the 2005-06 season. Her list of accomplishments includes ITA Rookie of the Year, UNM Female Student-Athlete of the Year, Mountain West Conference Female Student-Athlete of the Year, ITA Scholar Athlete and MWC Scholar Athlete. She also volunteered for several community service activities, including the Kids After School Sports Program, Boys and Girls Club Sports Day and Special Olympics. In addition, she served on the university's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The format for selecting the Woman of the Year changed this year, with conferences nominating 121 student-athletes. A committee comprised of representatives from NCAA member schools and conferences selected the conference winners. There are 10 conference winners from each division. These student-athletes participated in 16 of the 20 sports in which women compete for NCAA championships. A national winner - the NCAA Woman of the Year - will be selected by the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics from among nine finalists. The top nine finalists will be announced October 25. The 2006 Woman of the Year will be announced during the annual awards dinner October 28 in Indianapolis. CSTV personality Danyelle Sargent and Kara Lawson, former University of Tennessee, Knoxville, women's basketball standout and a 2003 Woman of the Year top-10 finalist currently playing in the WNBA, will serve as co-hosts for the evening. As part of the Woman of the Year weekend, finalists will assemble mini-barns for Habitat for Humanity homes on Saturday, October 28 as their community service project. The build will occur at the 1700 block of Roosevelt Avenue from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Last year's national winner was Lauryn McCalley, a former diving standout from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She was the second swimming and diving student-athlete from Tennessee to be honored since the award's inception since 1991. Other past winners include: 2004 - Kelly Albin, lacrosse, University of California, Davis; 2003 - Ashley Rowatt, swimming and diving , Kenyon College; 2002 -- Tanisha Silas, track and field, University of California, Davis; 2001 -- Kimberly A. Black, swimming, University of Georgia; 2000 -- Kristy Kowal, swimming, University of Georgia; 1999 -- Jamila Demby, track and field, University of California, Davis; 1998 -- Peggy Boutilier, lacrosse and field hockey, University of Virginia; 1997 the late Lisa Ann Coole, swimming and diving, University of Georgia; 1996 - Billie Winsett-Fletcher, volleyball, University of Nebraska; 1995 - Rebecca Lobo, basketball, University of Connecticut; 1994 - Tanya Jones, track and field, University of Arizona; 1993 - Nnenna Jean Lynch, cross country and track and field, Villanova University; 1992 - Catherine Byrne, swimming and diving, University of Tennessee; and 1991 - Mary Beth Riley, track and field, Canisius College. 2006 Woman of the Year conference nominees are: Anne Bersagel, Atlantic Coast Conference (Division I), Wake Forest University, cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field Adrianne Musu Jackson-Buckner, State University of New York Athletic Conference (Division III), State University College at Oneonta, field hockey, indoor and outdoor track and field Courtney Bumpers, Atlantic Coast Conference (Division I), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, gymnastics Maureen Burns, Northeast-10 Conference (Division II), Bryant College, field hockey and lacrosse Keira Carlstrom, The Patriot League (Division I), American University, cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field Lindsey Dietz, North Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (Division II), University of Minnesota Duluth, basketball Nicole DeYong, Independent (Division II), University of Alaska Anchorage, skiing and cross country Erika Eisenhut, Liberty League (Division III), Union College (New York), basketball and soccer Janelle Engle, Colonial Athletic Conference (Division I), Old Dominion University, field hockey Elizabeth Guernsey, New England Small College Athletic Conference (Division III), Trinity College (Connecticut), rowing Alyse Hasty, Gulf South Conference (Division II), Delta State University, softball Angela Homan, Southeastern Conference (Division I), Auburn University, cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field Jennifer Irwin, Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (Division II), Ferris State University, cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field Cortney Kjar, Northwest Conference (Division III), University of Puget Sound, soccer Maja Kovacek, Mountain West Conference (Division I), University of New Mexico, tennis Sarah Lowe, Southeastern Conference, University of Florida, basketball Victoria Martinez, Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (Division II), Adams State College, cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field Renee Neuner, University Athletic Association (Division III), University of Chicago, soccer Amanda Newton, Great Lakes Valley Conference (Division II), Drury University, basketball Katherine Pederson, Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (Division III), Central College (Iowa), indoor track and field and volleyball Angela Pfeiffer, Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (Division III), Concordia College (Moorehead), indoor and outdoor track and field Bethany Rehm, Independent (Division II), Texas Woman's University, gymnastics Kate Richardson, Pacific-10 Conference (Division I), University of California, Los Angeles, gymnastics Julia Rudd, Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (Division III), University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field Jodie Schoppmann, State University of New York Athletic Conference (Division III), State University College at Potsdam, cross country Christyn Schumann, Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (Division III), Trinity University (Texas), indoor and outdoor track and field Christine Sinclair, West Coast Conference (Division I), University of Portland, soccer Greta Trotman, Sunshine State Conference (Division II), Barry University, tennis Shannon Wommack, Southern Conference (Division I), University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field Martina Moo Young, South Atlantic Conference (Division II), Wingate University, golf
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