Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. – Former Virginia Tech H2Okies swimmer Jessica Botzum was nominated for the NCAA 2008 Woman of the Year award. Botzum is one of 30 conference and independent nominees for the 18th annual award. The nominees represent all three divisions, excelling in academics, athletics, leadership and community service. From the group of 30, the top nine finalists will be selected and announced later this month. To be eligible for this honor, female student-athletes must have earned a varsity letter in an NCAA-sponsored sport and competed during the 2007-08 academic year. Each individual must have completed intercollegiate eligibility in her primary sport by the end of the 2008 spring season and carry a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.5.
"We are very proud of her accomplishments during her time at Virginia Tech,” said head coach Ned Skinner. “It is great to have many different organizations recognize Jessica for her success as a student-athlete and university ambassador. She not only rewrote the swimming record books at Tech, but she also displayed an ability to be an excellent teammate and friend to so many.”
Botzum, a Raleigh, N.C. native, was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Swimmer of the Year for the second straight season. She was the fifth ACC woman to earn two Swimmer of the Year accolades, but the first to earn three annual awards, including her 2005 ACC Freshman of the Year honor.
Botzum, now graduated, left Blacksburg as the most decorated swimmer in the program’s history for her effort not only in the pool, but also in the classroom. An Academic All-American and recipient of an ACC postgraduate scholarship, she earned All-America status three times in the 200-yard breaststroke (2005, 2007-08) and twice in the 100 breaststroke (2007,08). She also earned All-American honorable mention status once in the 200 breaststroke (2006), the 200 medley relay (2008) and the 400 medley relay (2008).
The Woman of the Year will be announced at an awards dinner in Indianapolis on October 19.