Tennessee sprint freestyler Faith Johnson has been nominated for the 2016 NCAA Woman of the Year award.
Johnson’s academic accolades include being honored as 2015 Capital One Academic All-District, along with making the SEC Academic Honor Roll all four years as a Volunteer. She graduated with a degree in kinesiology.
Johnson, who went into her freshman year at Tennessee as the 2nd-fastest 50m freestyler in U.S. 17-18 age group history (she still sits at #5), was crucial to Tennessee’s success at the conference and national level over the last four years. She won the 50 free SEC title as a freshman in 2013, the year that she was also part of NCAA title-winning relays in the 200 medley and free relays. Johnson has 20 All-America certificates, and was All-American all four years at Tennessee.
In her final meet collegiately, at the NCAA Champs, Johnson led off the national runner-up 200 free relay for Tennessee, and anchored three other relays, including the 400 free relay which finished 8th. She also swam in the B final of the 50 free, touching 15th.
Each NCAA member is able to nominate one female student-athlete who has completed their eligibility to the conference level, and then each conference office reviews and submits its nominee to the NCAA. The NCAA then narrows the field to a Top 30 (10 from each of the NCAAs three divisions), and then to a top 9 (3 from each of the NCAAs three divisions). A winner is announced at the NCAA Woman of the Year awards dinner each fall.
The award is given based on criteria of academic achievements, athletics excellence, community service and leadership.
Clarion University diver Kristin Day was the 2015 recipient of the honor. The award have been won by swimming & diving athletes 11 times since it began in 1991, more than any other sport.
Past winners of the award:
