Jillian Drinkard (Golf, Methodist University), Erica Ekstrand (Tennis, Williams College), Jessica Goldyn (Virginia Wesleyan University), Emily Pomainville (Track & Field, SUNY Geneseo), Kendall Sosa (Basketball, Illinois Wesleyan University) and Alexis Strobel (Lacrosse, Salisbury University) were named DIII Honda Athlete of the Year finalists as announced by Executive Director Chris Voelz of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda.
While a DIII Honda Athlete of the Year will not be selected due to the lack of full competition, the finalists will be recognized on the CWSA Honda Sports Award broadcast on CBS Sports Network on June 28, 2021, (6 pm PT /9 pm EST).
“Though there was incomplete competition due to the pandemic, CWSA nonetheless wanted to recognize the accomplishments of those outstanding DIII student athletes who were able to compete, “ said CWSA Executive Director, Chris Voelz.
A junior from Appomattox, Va., Drinkard of Methodist was named the 2021 Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) Division III Player of the Year and a WGCA Division III first-team All-American and All-Region selection . Additionally, she was named the USA South Golfer of the Year and captured the USA South Conference Tournament individual medalist. She won five of seven events on the year and finished top-three in all seven of the events she participated in.
Ekstrand, a Williams College freshman from Santa Monica, Calif., and captured the 2021 NCAA National Singles Championship in tennis. She posted a straight set victory over the top-seeded player in the tournament en route to her first individual title. She went on to earn first-team All-NESCAC honors after her first season of competition.
A graduate student hailing from Virginia Beach, Va., Goldyn was named the 2021 NFCA DIII Player of the Year and the NFCA DIII Catcher of the Year. She led Virginia Wesleyan to the 2021 National Championship and was named the Tournament Most Outstanding Player. Goldyn finished the season with 84 hits in 172 at-bats with 42 hits being for extra bases. She also scored 69 runs, had 54 RBI, 30 walks and stole an NCAA leading 73 bases.
SUNY Geneseo senior mid-distance runner Emily Pomainville was most recently named the SUNYAC Women's Outdoor Track & Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year after being honored as the DIII USTFCCCA Women’s Track Athlete of the Year and the SUNYAC Women’s Track Athlete of the Year. The native of Malone, N.Y., won the NCAA Division III championship in the 1,500 and set the NCAA Division III record in the prelims of the championship meet.
Sosa, an Illinois Wesleyan senior guard from Normal, Ill., was named the 2021 WBCA DIII Player of the Year and a first-team All-American. The two-time first-team All-Conference honoree scored 267 points, grabbed 38 rebounds, tallied 31 steals, and added 27 assists over just 10 games this season. She led the CCIW in scoring at 26.7 points per game and ranked second nationally. Off the court, she was named a CoSIDA first-team Academic All-American.
Strobel is a senior attack player from Bel Air, Md., and led Division III with 82 assists, which set a new single-season assist record at Salisbury and ranks fourth-best in Division III history. She was named the IWLCA National Player and National Attack Player of the Year and an IWLCA first-team All-American. En route to a national championship, she scored 28 goals and picked up 11 ground balls and was named the C2C Player of the Year.
The CWSA, celebrating its 45th anniversary year, has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for their superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service. Since commencing its partnership in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs.
About Honda Corporate Social Responsibility
For more than 60 years in the U.S., Honda has been committed to making positive contributions to the communities where its associates live and work. Honda’s mission is to create products and services that improve the lives of people while conducting its business in a sustainable manner and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Accordingly, Honda believes in helping people reach their life’s potential through its focus on improving children’s health, inspiring underrepresented students, preserving the environment for future generations, creating safety for everyone, and strengthening our communities. Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/.