NCAA Woman of the Year: Asia Seidt
NCAA Woman of the Year: Asia Seidt
By Kylie Rau
January 21, 2021
The NCAA Woman of the Year showcases the top college female athletes from all over the country. The 2020 nominations featured a record of 605 female student-athletes from all different member colleges and universities. Not only does this award recognize graduating athletes who have made an impact in their sport, but it recognizes athletes who have impacted their schools in academics, service as well as leadership.
The breakdown of the nominees includes 250 Division I competitors, 126 Division II competitors and 220 Division III competitors. These student-athletes competed in 24 different sports and 128 of the athletes played multiple sports at their institution. In order for the athlete to have been eligible for the 2020 Woman of the Year awards, they must have graduated by the Summer of 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the athlete could have demonstrated that they would have earned their degree by the Summer of 2020 if not for the pandemic.
Source: Ace Weekly
The 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year was awarded to Asia Seidt. Seidt is a former swimmer at the University of Kentucky who majored in Kinesiology. The senior captain made history as the first winner of the NCAA Woman of the Year from Kentucky. She is the most decorated swimmer in Kentucky history, holding nine school records and 21 College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of American All-America honors.
Source: University of Kentucky Athletics
“I’d like to thank the female athletes who have paved the road for us,” Seidt said while accepting the award. “I hope this just inspires all the other female athletes to see what we can accomplish and to pave our way for the younger female athletes in sports.”
Source: University of Kentucky Athletics
Seidt also won four conference championships, three of which were in the 200-yard backstroke and one in the 100-yard backstroke. She competed in the USA Swimming Summer Nationals and won a gold medal. As a member of Team USA, she competed internationally in the World University Games, earning a silver medal in the 200-yard backstroke in 2019.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Seidt accepted her award virtually during the live streamed event on November 13. She was the 30th female-athlete to win the NCAA Woman of the Year award. She graduated from Kentucky in May of 2020, and is currently enrolled in the doctor of physical therapy program and hopes to open her own practice in the near future.