Cowley College honors its women’s athletes on National Girls and Women in Sports Day
With National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebrated on February 7, Cowley College is proud to honor the achievements of its girls and women in athletics.
The Lady Tiger athletic programs and female student-athletes have enjoyed great success over the past year. Cowley volleyball and women's cross country each captured national championships in the fall, while the Lady Tiger tennis team finished as the national runner-up during the 2023 season.
Lady Tiger cross country runner Dhennifer Vaz, the lone sophomore on the team, finished eighth at the national meet with a time of 18:46.50 in the 5,000-meter race and earned Second-Team All-American honors for her efforts. Kaylie Myers, Leticia Belo, Brittannia Willis, and Lakota Schultz also ran amazing races and earned Coaches Association All-American honors.
After winning the 2023 national championship with a record of 41-0, Cowley College sophomore libero Rossana Papa and Lady Tiger head coach Steven Gream received top honors from the NJCAA as Papa was named the NJCAA Division II Volleyball Player of the Year, and Gream was named the NJCAA Division II Volleyball Coach of the Year.
Lana Milner was named the 2023 AVCA Two-Year National Assistant Coach of the Year. While Cowley College sophomore Rossana Papa and freshman Laura Bonomi added yet another award to their stellar 2023 seasons by each earning the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Two Year College First Team All-American award.
With Arina Babenko and Mariia Koroleva capturing singles titles, the Cowley College women's tennis team had its highest-ever national finish by placing second at the NJCAA Division I Women's Tennis National Championships held in Tyler, TX.
Finishing as conference co-champions and earning the top seed in the District B Tournament, the Cowley College softball team led the list of all-conference selections, with 10 players receiving recognition.
Pitcher Saige Smith was named Freshman of the Year, and Jenny Hoyt was named the Coach of the Year in the conference.
The Cowley College women's soccer team advanced to its first-ever national tournament and finished the season with a record of 13-5-4.
Roberto dos Santos was named the Coach of the Year in the conference and region for the second time in the past three seasons. Cowley had six players named all-conference.
The Cowley College women's outdoor track and field team finished as conference champions and placed 13th at the national championships.
The Lady Tigers were led by sophomore Kayla McClellan, finishing as the national runner-up in the hammer throw, while Sarah Robinson (hammer), Jamilet Bautista (javelin), Jacie Carson (pole vault), and the women's 4x800-meter relay team also garnered All-American honors.
Numerous Lady Tiger athletes have also been honored for their work in the classroom.
To help aid the continued success of women's athletics at Cowley College, please get in touch with the Tiger Athletic Department at 620-441-5268 to make a donation.