NCAA Release
ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – Every year, the NCAA asks colleges and universities around the country to honor their top graduating female student-athlete by nominating them for the NCAA Woman of the Year award.
The College of Saint Benedict has had some impressive nominees in each of the past few years, and the 2018 nominee is no exception.
Sara Wennerstrand, a 2018 CSB softball alumnae, was chosen from an impressive pool of senior CSB student-athletes to be brought forward as the college's nominee.
Wennerstrand is one of a record 581 female college athletes nominated for the 2018 Woman of the Year award, and one of 199 Division III nominees. Wennerstrand's nomination now heads to the conference level where the MIAC will select up to two nominees to move forward to the national level. The conference office is expected to announce its nominee later this month.
Wennerstrand wrapped up a successful four-year career with the softball program in May. The psychology major – who started the occupational therapy program at St. Scholastica in June – won the athletic department's presidential award for her excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community. Wennerstrand, who minored in exercise science, graduated with a 3.94 GPA, and along with softball, she was active in SAAC and CSB's percussion and marimba ensemble.
She volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club in Waite Park, and serves as a volunteer tennis instructor and youth softball coach at home in Baxter. On the field, Wennerstrand – a two-time NFCA All-Region selection – was a two-time All-MIAC First Team pick. She graduated with the school record for RBIs in a season and a career, and earned All-MIAC Honorable Mention accolades in her final season at CSB.
After receiving conference nominees, the NCAA will choose the Top 30 honorees – 10 from each Division. Saint Benedict has had two individuals make it to the top 30 in the past five years. Former soccer standout Colleen Bouchard was a Top 30 finalist in 2014, and Allison Kosobud – a key athlete for both the cross country and track and field programs – made it to the Top 30 in 2017.
