The 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year nominees were announced on Tuesday, a list that includes Lake Forest College swimmer Ani Karagianis.
Karagianis captained the 2019-20 Foresters to the program's first Midwest Conference championship since 2012 and the 11th title in team history. She finished sixth at the conference meet in the 1650-freestyle, eighth in the 400-IM, and 11th in the 500-freestyle. Karagianis earned a total of 154 points in individual events during her four career appearances at the MWC Championships.
Successful in the classroom as well, the double-major in history and sociology and anthropology graduated with a cumulative grade point average of 3.92. She was a Dean's List and Academic All-MWC honoree all four years and a member of the Phi Beta Kappa, Lambda Alpha, and Alpha Kappa Kappa Delta honors societies.
In addition to being a two-year team captain, Karagianis served on Athletic Council and contributed to the College's Special Olympics, Relay for Life, and Forester Day of Service initiatives. She was also a vice president of administration and secretary for Delta Delta Delta and participated in numerous philanthropic events as part of the sorority.
"Ani is a very well-rounded individual who has been successful in the pool and the classroom while also contributing in many other areas of campus life," commented assistant swimming and diving coach Amy Finn '12, who was the College's NCAA Woman of the Year nominee eight years ago. "In addition, her leadership on the swimming and diving team played a key role in our championship this past season."
Conference winners in the NCAA Woman of the Year program will be announced later this month. The Woman of the Year selection committee, made up of representatives from the NCAA membership, will then choose the Top 30 honorees — 10 from each division. Finally, three from each division will be chosen as finalists with the winner announced in the fall.