Courtesy of GVSU Sports Information
ALLENDALE, Mich. – Grand Valley State women's golfer Gabrielle Shipley has been named as one of the nominees for the 2016 NCAA Woman of the Year award, which seeks to honor graduating female college athletes who have finished their athletic careers and who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in academics, athletics, service and leadership. The 2016 class contains 517 nominees across Divisions I, II and III, and is the largest pool of nominees to ever be selected in the 26-year history of the award.
Of the 517 nominees, 231 competed in Division I, 117 in Division II and 169 in Division III athletics, and altogether represent 21 different sports. From the initial selection as a nominee, conferences will then select two nominees from their member institution nominees to advance on to the Woman of the Year selection committee. The committee will choose the top 30 nominees, and will then slim that down to nine finalists by September, three from each division. Of those nine finalists, one will be selected as the 2016 NCAA Woman of the Year at the annual award ceremony in Indianapolis, Indiana on October 16th.
Shipley ended her Laker career in grandiose fashion, winning the individual title at the 2016 NCAA Division II National Championships by tying a school record for low round score with her best ever round of 69 (-3). The senior from Hastings, Michigan earned her national championship with a decisive final birdie putt to wrap up a one-stroke victory, becoming the second Laker to win the individual national title. Shipley's performance led the Lakers to a fourth place finish overall at the Division II National Championship in Aurora, Colorado on Saturday, May 21st.
In addition to her recent accolades, Shipley amassed four straight All-GLIAC First Team honors for her career, finishing with 11 wins and a 76.25 scoring average, was a two-time WGCA First Team All-American and was the 2015 GLIAC Women's Golfer of the Year. This season, she finished with a team best 73.79 average, posting 89 birdies and two eagles on her way to four wins and three second place finishes overall. Her senior season also saw her serve as the president of the SAAC (Student Athlete Advisory Committee) at Grand Valley State.
To view the list of school nominees click here.
