Paddle Diva's Friday Fives: 5 Women to Watch in College Athletics

Friday Fives: 5 Women to Watch in College Athletics

October 26, 2012 |

Author Paddle Diva

At Paddle Diva, we love to see young women athletes competing, whether as individuals or with a team — or simply just doing what they love to do! Here are five young outstanding college athletes we’ve had our eye on:

Kira Garry, Yale Runner (and a local gal from Montauk) — she is dedicated to the sport and is so happy when she is running. She’s also an amazing swimmer and surfer! During the 2011-12 season, she set the Yale record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (10:22.81) at the New Balance Boston Twilight Meet, earning a spot in the U.S. Junior National Championships, where she placed fifth. Read more about the latest additions to her already impressive record here.
Lauren Kelleher, SUNY Cortland Golf Team. She’s been golfing since she was 10, she’s dedicated to golf and places a priority on her studies and the team. She’s not only my niece, but she’s an amazing person. She’s got two brothers and she’s a role model to them both but showing them she can balance sports and academics!
Brittney Griner, who has been thrilling Baylor Bears basketball audiences with her two-handed dunks and formidable shot-blocking, was the recipient of this year’s ESPY Award, Collegiate Women Sports Award (Honda Cup), and named AP Player of the Year.
Already a soccer star in her home country, Betsy Hassett played for the New Zealand national team during the 2008 World Cup and 2012 Olympics. During the school year she is All-American, a tireless midfielder for U.C. Berkeley. She’s an outstanding student, too, having been named to the 2011 Pac-12 All-Academic team.
Also at U.C. Berkeley (and also a recipient of the 2012 Honda Cup) is senior Caitlin Leverenz, who helped the team swimming and diving programs dominate the pool last season to earn the NCAA team title.

Congratulations to all the hundreds of amazing young women who strive to win! As we mentioned in our last post, the benefits of participating in sports have a profoundly positive effect, especially on girls, so let’s support and encourage our young female athletes from an early age!