Texas A&M’s Claire Brandt Nominated for 2016 NCAA Woman of the Year

Texas A&M All-American swimmer Claire Brandt has been nominated for the 2016 NCAA Woman of the Year award.

Brandt recently graduated from A&M with a 3.81 GPA with a degree in chemistry and a minor in Spanish, which adds to her three-time inclusion among the ranks of the SEC Honor Roll and the CSCAA Scholar All-America team.

Brandt came to Texas A&M in 2012 as a four-time Texas private school (TAPPS)  Champion in the 50 free and three-time Champion in the 100 fly. She was primarily a sprint freestyler, and though she showed some backstroke potential, she took a huge turn into the stroke when she got to college. She ends her career ranked 8th all-time in the 100 back (53.18) and 4th all-time in the 200 back (1:53.22) and is qualified to swim both races, plus the 50 free, at next week’s Olympic Trials.

Brandt ended her collegiate career at Texas A&M as part of the Aggies’ 13th-place 200 free relay at March’s NCAA Championships in addition to 3 individual swims.

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: