Kelly Diplock, a junior from Limestone College, was named the DII Honda Athlete of the Year finalist for Field Hockey as announced today by Executive Director Chris Voelz of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda.
Diplock is now designated one of 11 finalists for the prestigious DII Honda Athlete of the Year. This will be voted on at the end of the academic year by national balloting among 1,000 NCAA member schools as part of THE CWSA program, now in its 44th year.
“I am extremely humbled and privileged to have been considered for such an award,” said Diplock. “I cannot express how grateful I am to all those who have helped me grow along my journey not only as a student-athlete but as a striving individual. I thank my family, friends and coaches for always pushing me to be the best me possible and for believing in me doubtlessly. Receiving this award would not have been possible if Limestone College had not given me the incredible opportunity to play the sport I love at an amazing school that empowers student-athletes to surpass their own expectations in every way possible.”
“Most importantly, I give all the praise to God for continuing to guide and bless me in ways that allow me to glorify his name. Last but most definitely not least, I would like to give huge appreciation to the organizers of the Honda Award for all the support, encouragement, and recognition given to women’s athletics. Thank you for laying a foundation that permits female athletes to reach for the stars.””
Diplock, an attack player hailing from Harare, Zimbabwe, was named a first-team National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) honoree after earning second-team honors last season and was named the South Atlantic Conference Carolinas Offensive Player of the Year for the second year in a row. A two-time member of the All-South Atlantic Conference Carolinas first-team, she earned the South Atlantic Conference Carolinas Tournament Most Valuable Player honors after leading her team to its second consecutive conference championship.
On the season, she scored 15 goals and nine assists to lead the Limestone offensive attack which ranked second in the nation in goals per game.
“What an incredible honor for a truly incredible young woman,” stated head coach Jessica Mulhern. “Kelly Diplock has brought such life to our team- each day she has a smile on her face and gives nothing less than her best. It’s special to watch her interact with her peers- she compliments, leads and challenges those around her to better themselves- and it’s easy to see the impact she has made as a student-athlete with her many accolades (National Academic Team, All-America Honors, Conference POY, Tournament MVP, etc), but Kelly’s impact goes beyond the field with her many hours devoted to community service where she has represented her team as a captain and part of our Leadership Council.”
“We are so thankful to have her as a Limestone Saint. Those who know Kelly, love Kelly. She is one of a kind. Thank you to the organization for recognizing this fine student-athlete, and thank you, Kelly, for all you do for our program. I am honored to be your coach. Congratulations!”
All Honda Sports nominees from DII and DIII become a finalist for the prestigious 2020 Honda Athlete of the Year in their respective divisions, presented in a live telecast on CBS Sports on June 22, 2020, in downtown Los Angeles. The Honda Sports nominees are recognized in 11 DII and DIII NCAA-sanctioned sports; cross country, basketball, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, volleyball, and track & field.
THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for 44 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 $3.4 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs at the institutions.
About Honda Corporate Social Responsibility
Honda also is committed to making positive contributions to the communities where it does business, conducting socially responsible business practices and promoting diversity in its workforce. From Honda's involvement in STEM education and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to its support of pediatric brain tumor research and volunteer efforts by Honda associates, including environmental clean-up activities, Honda believes in giving back to the communities where its associates live and work. Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/.