UW-Whitewater’s Jablonski Named Conference’s NCAA Woman of the Year Nominee
Official NCAA Release
MADISON, Wis.--Former University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball standout Joanne Jablonski has been named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) nominee for the 2015 NCAA Woman of the Year Award.
The NCAA Woman of the Year Award honors graduating student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership. By submitting nominations, institutions and conferences have the opportunity to recognize female student-athletes who best exemplify a commitment to these four areas.
A native of Palatine, Ill., Jablonski was a four-year staple in the Warhawk lineup. She led UW-Whitewater to WIAC regular-season titles in 2014 and 2015, WIAC tournament crowns in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and three straight NCAA Division III Championship appearances. A two-time All-WIAC first team selection, Jablonski claimed National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Great Lakes Region second team honors in 2015 after receiving first team recognition in 2014. She also helped the Warhawks to a third-place finish at the 2014 NCAA Division III Championship.
Her senior year, Jablonski ranked second in the WIAC with a .515 on-base percentage and 25 walks, while placing third with a .422 batting average, .741 slugging percentage, 57 hits and 100 total bases. Jablonski has written her name in the UW-Whitewater and WIAC record books in multiple categories including: homeruns in a game; homeruns in a season; walks in a season; career walks; and career homeruns.
In the classroom, Jablonski capped her career with Academic All-America® second team honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America. She is a two-time Academic All-District® first team pick and boasted a 3.88 grade point average, while graduating summa cum laude with a degree in elementary education and a minor in Spanish education. In 2015, Jablonski claimed the WIAC Judy Kruckman Softball Scholar-Athlete Award and was named UW-Whitewater's Female Student-Athlete of the Year. In her four years, she added multiple NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete, WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll, and Chancellor Scholar Athlete honors, as well as recognition on UW-Whitewater’s Dean's List.
As member of Sigma Alpha Lambda honor society and a four-year member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Jablonski was named Vice President in 2013-14 and served as SAAC President during the 2014-15 academic year. As a member of SAAC, Jablonski organized a canned food drive and participated in W3 Wellness Day, a community outreach program. She added international community service to her resume in the fall of 2014 after volunteering at an assisted living center in Ecuador as part of a study abroad program.
Jablonski also participated in Reading with the Warhawks, an opportunity for UW-Whitewater's student-athletes to read to local children and Make A Difference Day, a campus and community cleanup program.
Additionally, Jablonski played an integral role in the implementation of the pilot program for the Warhawk Leadership Academy and was the student representative on the search and screen committee for UW-Whitewater's Director of Athletics. Jablonski stayed active in aiding her fellow students as a Peer Mentor in 2013, a member and participant of a UW-Whitewater Learning Community and as a tutor for three years in the UW-Whitewater tutoring center.
All conference NCAA Woman of the Year nominees will be forwarded to the NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee. The selection committee will choose the top 10 nominees in each division. From among those 30 honorees, the selection committee will determine the top three in each division. Finally, the members of the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics will vote from among the top nine to determine the 2015 NCAA Woman of the Year.
The top 10 honorees from Divisions I, II and III will be honored and the 2015 NCAA Woman of the Year announced at a dinner in Indianapolis on October 18.
Also nominated for this year’s NCAA Woman of the Year Award from the conference were: UW-Eau Claire’s Carly Fehler (Oak Creek, Wis.); UW-La Crosse’s Laura Mead (Andover, Minn.); UW-Platteville’s Alyssa Krajco (Richland Center, Wis.); UW-River Falls’ Gillian McDonald (New Brighton, Minn./Irondale); and UW-Superior’s Sally Linzmeier (Valders, Wis.).
In order to be considered for the award, nominees must complete their eligibility (or have no intent to compete further) by July 2015 and have completed their undergraduate degrees by the end of the summer of 2015. Individuals can be nominated only once in their careers.
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