2017 NCAA Woman of the Year Nominees Release

INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- Union College senior women's swimmer Christina Belforti has been nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award. The full list of nominees was announced on June 27 by the NCAA.

Belforti was one of 543 nominees nationwide, the most ever in the history of the program. She was nominated for her efforts in academics, athletics, service and leadership. She is one of 197 student-athletes nominated from NCAA Division III institutions. A total of 51 student-athletes who compete in women's swimming & diving were nominated, and 20 from that sport were from Division III. Belforti is one of seven nominees from Liberty League institutions.

Earlier this month, Belforti was named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District™ I  Women's At-Large Team for NCAA Division III. She was one of 10 students selected in the district, including seven from the Liberty League and four swimmers. She carries a 3.79 cumulative GPA in English & History (the average GPA of the nominees is 3.69). She also received the Robert Ridings Award for the outstanding female student-athlete at the Union College Senior Student-Athlete Awards Ceremony on June 9.

Belforti became the first female swimmer in Liberty League history to break the two minute mark in the 200-yard backstroke. Her 200 mark of 1:59.34 was fourth best at the 2017 NCAA Championships in Shenandoah, Texas. She qualified for the event in 21st position. She was an All-American in the 200 back and one of only 17 swimmers in the history of NCAA Division III to break the two minute mark in that event. Belforti broke her own UNYSCSA record in the 200 by over two seconds with her time of 1:59.34. She was an honorable mention All-American in the 100 with a 16th place finish. Her time of 56.25 in the 100 back broke a 24 year old record at Union held by Julie Benker-O'Brien.