LOCK HAVEN, PA - West Chester University star swimmer,
Ann Carozza (West Chester, Pa./East) was recently named a conference nominee for the 2023 NCAA Woman of the Year award.
The NCAA Woman of the Year award, established in 1991, recognizes graduating female student-athletes for excellence in academics, athletics, community service, and leadership throughout their college careers. This year's record-breaking number of 619 female student-athletes were nominated by NCAA member schools and span 24 different sports represented across all three NCAA divisions, including 128 total nominees from Division II.
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Carozza is a two-time NCAA Division II National Champion, with victories in the 200 butterfly in both 2022 and 2023. In her career, she has collected nine NCAA Individual All-America and 11 NCAA Relay All-America honors and is the NCAA Division II record holder in the 100 butterfly (time of 52.06) and 200 butterfly (1:55.98). She was named the PSAC Women's Swimming Athlete of the Year in both 2022 and 2023, has won nine PSAC Individual events and 14 PSAC Relay events. Carozza holds PSAC records in the 200 freestyle and both butterfly distances as well as West Chester school records in the 50/100/200 freestyle and 100/200 butterfly events. Her community service and campus activities included work with the Special Olympics Swim Team, the RAM (Real Achievement Matters) Initiative Program, and West Chester's Student Athlete Advisory Committee.
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Academically, Carozza majored in Special Education with a minor in Autism Education and tallied a 3.60 cumulative grade-point average (GPA). She has been awarded with a 2023 CSC Academic All-America second team honor as well as recognition on the 2023 CSC Academic All-District team. She was named the 2023 Philly SIDA All-Area Performer of the Year and, in 2022, was named to both the Philly SIDA All-Area Academic and CoSIDA Academic All-America teams. She is a four-time NCAA Academic All American and a five-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete.
The NCAA will announce the Top 30 semifinalists for the Woman of the Year award in October with 10 women coming from each of the three divisions. Those 30 individuals will be recognized at the NCAA Convention in Phoenix, Ariz., from January 10-13.
