USM student Tina West was named the 2002 NCAA Woman of the Year for the state of Maine. This award honors outstanding female student-athletes who have excelled in academics, athletics and community leadership. It is one of the top honors that the NCAA bestows upon college athletes.
West has maintained an outstanding academic record, performed solidly on the playing fields and demonstrated tireless commitment to her community. Yet West was surprised to receive the award this year.
“I thought the NCAA envelope was follow-up material from a leadership conference I’d attended. I was shocked,” West said. “I never believed I had a chance of winning.”
Her 3.64 GPA is proof of her academic excellence, but West emphasized how crucial time management is for an athletic scholar.
“It’s a big effort,” West said.
She has been on the Dean’s list for eight semesters and has earned numerous scholarships.
“Tina is the perfect example of what a student-athlete should be,” said Steve Quinones, USM women’s soccer coach.
West was a four-year member of the Huskies women’s soccer and softball teams. She says she loved playing in games with “high intensity against rival teams like Plymouth State and Western Connecticut.”
West demonstrated outstanding leadership as a captain for both squads, guiding the soccer team in 2001 and the softball team from 2000 to 2002.
“Tina was a tremendous team leader,” Quinones said. “On the soccer field she started 51 of the 67 games that she appeared in.”
Her career stats for softball are outstanding. Batting .312, she racked up 17 RBIs and scored 25 runs.
“I’m not a home run hitter,” West said. Instead she helped her team out bunting and base stealing.
“She is a phenomenal young lady with great leadership skills. She has the respect of her peers and the entire staff,” said Bonny Brown-Denico, softball coach.
At USM, she was the 2001-2002 president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and a mentor with the Athletes Committed to Education and Sports.
Her activities outside of university athletics and academics further qualify her for the award. West dances tap, jazz and ballet, and also was a choreographer and dancer for Dance USM. She was invited by the Gorham High School music teacher to design and facilitate performing arts workshops. She has conducted local youth softball and soccer clinics and is currently the assistant coach of a successful Deering High girls’ varsity team.
West may not even make it to the ceremony to honor her and representatives from the entire country in Indianapolis this November. If the Deering High soccer team is in the playoffs, she will be needed on the sideline here.
Each academic institution is encouraged to submit a nominee for this year’s award.
“Tina was an obvious choice as our institutional nominee,” Al Bean, athletic director said.