Bella Sims of the University of Florida, Aranza Vazquez Montano from the University of North Carolina and Alex Walsh and Gretchen Walsh from the University of Virginia are the four finalists for the Class of 2024 Honda Sport Award for Swimming & Diving as announced by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) today.
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 during a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on Monday, June 24, 2024, at 7 PM ET, from its new home in New York City.
The swimming & diving finalists were selected by a panel of experts and coaches from the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA). The Honda Sport award winner for swimming & diving will be announced after voting by administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools. Each NCAA member institution has a vote.
Sims captured two individual 2024 NCAA Swimming Championship titles in record-setting fashion winning the 500 Free and the 200 Free with new school, conference and pool records. The freshman from Henderson, Nev., also swam the lead leg in the 800 Free Relay helping her team to the NCAA title and a school, conference and pool record. She has earned seven All-America honors in her first season.
Vazquez Montano, a diver hailing from La Paz, Mexico, was a Honda Award finalist last season and has won back-to-back CSCAA Diver of the Year honors. For the second year in a row, the senior swept the national titles in both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives. She is an 11-time CSCAA All-American with five First Team All-America honors.
The Walsh sisters, hailing from Nashville, Tenn., helped Virginia to its fourth consecutive NCAA team title and the team’s fifth consecutive ACC Championship title.
Alex Walsh, a senior, captured three individual NCAA titles in the 200 IM, 400 IM and 200 Breaststroke and also swam on three NCAA Championship relay teams- 200 Free relay, 400 Medley relay and 400 Free relay. Overall, she is a 19-time NCAA Champion and a 27-time CSCAA All-American.
Gretchen Walsh is a junior and a two-time Honda Award finalist. She was named the 2024 CSCAA Swimmer of the Year after capturing three individual NCAA titles setting the fastest times ever in those races for the 50 Free, 100 Free and 100 Fly. She also swam legs on all four of UVA’s championship relay teams- 200 Free relay, 400 Free relay, 200 Medley relay and 400 Medley relay.
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.
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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/.