2012-13 Honda Sports Award for Tennis – Nicole Gibbs
LOS ANGELES, California (June 4, 2013) --- For the second year in a row, Stanford’s Nicole Gibbs (Santa Monica, Calif.), a junior who won back-to-back NCAA singles titles and helped the Cardinal to the 2013 team title, has received the Honda Sports Award for tennis for the second year in a row and becomes a finalist for the 2013 Honda Cup. The Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) will present the Honda Cup live on ESPNU, June 24 at the USC Galen Center Founders Room in Los Angeles.
“I am humbled to be included as the women’s tennis recipient among such an incredible field of student-athletes. It’s a special honor to join such an amazing group of women who have proven themselves athletically and academically while competing at such a high level in their sport,” said Gibbs who earlier this Spring declared her intention to turn pro at the end of this season.
Gibbs repeated as NCAA champion with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Nebraska’s Mary Weatherholt, who hyperextended her right knee during the competition held in Urbana, Ill. Gibbs won all 6 of her post-season matches in straight sets and ended the season on a 14-match winning streak having dropped only 1 set in 13 consecutive matches. Her performance in Urbana helped the Cardinal claim the NCAA team title, making Gibbs only the second Stanford player to win NCAA team, singles and doubles titles in her career. The All-American and All-Pac-12 selection ends her collegiate career with a 111-15 overall record and is only the second Cardinal tennis player to repeat her back-to-back NCAA singles title since Amber Liu in 2003-04.
“This is a tremendous accomplishment for Nicole and I know she is very appreciative of the recognition, just as we are for our team and entire Stanford University athletics program. To be mentioned in the same class as the other Honda Award winners is truly a well-deserved honor,” said Stanford head coach, Lele Forood.
The CWSA presents the Honda Sports Award annually to top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports. With this honor, Gibbs, a junior economics major, becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the 2013 Honda Cup. She was chosen for the Honda Sports Award by a vote among more than 1,000 institutions based on NCAA finish and ITA overall ranking. Finalists included Lauren Embree (Univ. of Florida), Sabrina Santamaria (USC), and Weatherholt (Nebraska).
The Collegiate Women Sports Awards has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for 37 years, 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 $2.7 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs at the institutions. Previous Honda Cup winners include Brittney Griner, Ann Meyers Drysdale, Lisa Fernandez, Misty May-Treanor, Maya Moore, and Candace Parker.