The 2008 NCAA Woman of the Year awards dinner was held on Sunday October 19, at the Murat Centre, Egyptian Ballroom in Indianapolis, and former New Paltz swimmer Michelle Coombs was one of ten Division III women honored. Thirty outstanding young women, ten from each division, were honored for achieving excellence in every facet of life. Coombs is the first student-athlete from SUNY New Paltz to garner this recognition.
Michelle Coombs and Sage Steel, SportsCenter and ESPNEWS Anchor.
The NCAA established the Woman of the Year award in 1991 to celebrate the achievements of woman in intercollegiate athletics. It recognizes not only the athletic achievements of outstanding young women, but also their academic achievements, community service and leadership.
Coombs with Head Coach Brian Williams, her parents and her host family from Indy at the dinner reception.
Academic Achievements: Graduated with a 3.95 GPA; majored in Psychology; Outstanding Graduate at SUNY New Paltz. Two-time SUNY Chancellor’s Scholar-Athlete Award. SUNYAC Dr. Dolores Bogard Award, 2007. College Swim Coaches Association of America Academic All-American, 2007. Member of the SUNYAC All-Academic Team and SUNYAC Commissioner’s List. National College Athlete Honor Society Member.
Athletic Achievements: National Champion in 100-yard freestyle, 2007. Twelve-time All American swimmer. Twelve-time ECAC Champion; holds five ECAC meet records. SUNYAC Outstanding Female Swimmer, 2007 and 2008. Holds five conference records and eight varsity team records. Team MVP 2006-08. Team captain, 2007-08. SUNY New Paltz Outstanding Female Athlete, 2007 and 2008.
Service and Leadership: National Psychology Honor Society President, 2006-07. Research assistant for Psychology professor. Participant in Relay for Life; Served on planning committee. Organized Adopt-a-Family program. Psychiatric Hospital, worked with adults suffering from schizophrenia. Gateway Clinic, substance abuse program for adolescents. Family of Woodstock, resident counselor for a crisis management facility.
Excerpt from personal statement: “It is dedication, patience and determination to succeed through hard work in the pool that have carried into other areas of my life. These lessons have also granted me the role of leadership within swimming and also transcended into my life outside of the pool. The opportunity that I have had to participate in swimming has fostered in me a desire and a passion to create similar opportunities for youth within my community.”
The 30 honorees with Dr. Myles Brand, NCAA President, and Joni Comstock, NCAA senior vice president for championships and senior woman administrator.
