Ryleigh Heck, a sophomore forward from the University of North Carolina field hockey team, was named the Honda Sport Award winner for Field Hockey as announced today by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA).
The Honda Sport Award has been presented annually by the CWSA for the past 48 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA- sanctioned sports and signifies “the best of the best in collegiate athletics”. The winner of the sport award becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious 2024 Honda Cup, which will be presented on a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on Monday, June 24, 2024, at 7 PM ET, from its new home in New York City.
Heck was chosen by a vote of administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools. Finalists included Iris Langejans (Rutgers), Annabel Skubisz (Northwestern) and Lauren Wadas (Northwestern).
“I am so honored and grateful to receive the Honda Sport Award for Field Hockey,” said Heck. “I would like to acknowledge my teammates, coaches, and everyone in the field hockey community who supported me. I want to give a big thank you to Erin, Coach Shelton, all the coaching staff, my parents and teammates who played a huge role in my journey. Their guidance and encouragement helped me get here. This award is not just mine; it's a result of everyone's hard work in our field hockey program. I feel lucky to be part of a team that values hard work and excellence. A special thanks to the Honda family for supporting women's sports and recognizing achievements in field hockey. This award inspires me to aim higher and highlights the importance of women's athletics. I'm looking forward to the future of field hockey and the exciting opportunities ahead. Let's keep inspiring and lifting up women's sports together.”
Heck is the 2023 National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) DI Player of the Year and helped her team to the 2023 NCAA Championship and 11th title overall. The forward is a NFCHA First Team All-American, a First Team All-ACC honoree and was named the 2023 ACC Tournament MVP after leading UNC to its seventh consecutive ACC Championship title and 26th overall.
The sophomore from Ocean City, N.J., led the Tar Heels in scoring with 34 points on 13 goals and eight assists and scored the deciding goal in sudden death penalty shootout in the NCAA title game.
“Ryleigh being awarded the Honda Sport Award for Field Hockey speaks to her skill on the field but more significantly to the way she carries herself off the field and what she's done for our sport,” said head coach Erin Matson, a three-time Honda Sport Award winner for Field Hockey. “Like any award, this is a team award. But Ryleigh's commitment, drive, execution in crucial moments, and so much more have given her a spot on a very elite list. We are all so proud of Ryleigh and how she represents our program and our University.”
The CWSA, entering its 48th 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 the areas of education, the environment, mobility, traffic safety and community. Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/.