Eudice Chong, a senior tennis player from Wesleyan University, was named the DIII Honda Athlete of the Year as announced by Executive Director Chris Voelz of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda.
Chong will be presented with this honor on a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on June 25, 2018, (6 pm PT /9 pm EST) in the Founders’ Room at the Galen Center on the campus of the University of Southern California in downtown Los, Angeles. The honor was voted on by national balloting among 1,000 NCAA member schools as part of the CWSA program, now in its 42nd year.
“It is such an amazing honor to be receiving such a prestigious award, and these chances only come once in a lifetime!” exclaimed Chong. “Receiving this award means especially more because it shows that I've made an impact in some way or other throughout my collegiate career, and that I finished my four years giving it everything I've got. As an athlete of any sport, it means so much to see your hard work recognized, and in my case, I am lucky enough to be surrounded by people who have helped me get where I am and who continue to provide unwavering support.”
Chong captured the 2018 NCAA Singles Championship and is the first player in NCAA Individual Tournament history to win four-consecutive singles titles in any division of college tennis. Most recently, she was named the ITA National Senior Player of the Year and was a four-time DIII Honda Athlete of the Year nominee for tennis having been nominated every year since her freshman season.
The senior from Sai Kung, Hong Kong is a four-time ITA first-team All-America honoree in singles and doubles and a three-time NESCAC Player of the Year. She has also earned NESCAC first-team honors in both singles and doubles for the past four seasons. The psychology major finishes her singles career at Wesleyan as the all-time leader in wins, amassing a 103-6 record in four seasons.
“Eudice's accomplishments this year were nothing short of unprecedented,” head coach Mike Fried said. “As the first player ever - men's or women's, in any division - to win 4 NCAA singles titles, Eudice made history. Over her four years at Wesleyan, she established herself as one of the most accomplished NCAA Division III athletes ever, and she did so with an extraordinary amount of grace, sportsmanship and humility.”
“Eudice is a very special person who has brought so much to our campus both on and off the court, “stated Athletics Director Mike Whalen. “Over the past four years she has provided the foundation which has enabled us to build a national caliber tennis program at Wesleyan. Everyone she has come in contact with during her time at Wesleyan appreciates her passion and commitment and feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to support her during her historical collegiate career.”
The CWSA, in its 42nd year, honors the nation’s top NCAA women athletes recognizing superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service. Since commencing its sponsorship in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.1 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs at the institutions.