GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Atlantic Coast Conference nominee Stefani Deschner of Notre Dame is among the nine finalists announced Thursday for the 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year Award.
The NCAA will name the 2021 Woman of the Year during a virtual awards ceremony the evening of Tuesday, November 9. Now in its 31st year, the NCAA Woman of the Year program honors graduating female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.
“We are thrilled that Stefani has been selected as one of the nine finalists for the prestigious NCAA Woman of Year Award,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. “Stefani - along with all of the nominees from our member schools - have excelled in the classroom and in competition, while also setting the ultimate example in their commitment to community service. Stefani is an incredible individual who embodies everything that is important within college athletics. We are proud to support her as she represents both Notre Dame and the ACC.”
An NCAA fencing national champion and campus leader, Deschner joins eight other finalists who were among an original group of 535 school nominees. That group was narrowed to 154 nominees by conference offices, and the NCAA in September announced the Top 30 – 10 from each of three NCAA divisions. The list of finalists unveiled on Thursday consists of three student-athletes from each NCAA division.
Please see here for more details from the NCAA on the Woman of the Year program, including today’s announcement.
The ACC was the only Power 5 conference to place two student-athletes among this year’s Top 30, as Deschner was joined by Georgia Tech track and field All-American Bria Matthews.
Deschner was named the ACC Fencing Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive season after a successful senior year in which she helped Notre Dame to the 11th NCAA Fencing Championship in program history.
The Versailles, Kentucky, native continued her strong play on the strip after a breakout junior season. She completed an undefeated regular season with a 17-0 record heading into the NCAA Championships. At the NCAAs, Deschner advanced to the semifinals and defeated teammate Amita Berthier to advance to the foil finals. In the finals, she scored the first seven touches of the match and ended up claiming the foil championship, 15-9.
With the win, she captured her first career individual championship and was the first women’s foil champion from Notre Dame since Olympic gold medalist Lee Kiefer back in 2017.
The co-executive chair of the ACC Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) mental health board, Deschner has organized additional mental health town halls, developed education modules, and created a mental health station to help direct student athletes to proper mental health professionals.
Deschner has also actively served as the fencing liaison with Fighting Irish Fight for Life (FIFL), an organization that pairs severely ill children with the university’s sports teams.
Having recently earned her a undergraduate degree in pre-professional studies and theology, Deschner has been accepted into three medical schools. She was a 2021 ACC Postgraduate Scholarship recipient, a three-time All-ACC Fencing Academic Team honoree and has made the Dean’s List seven times.
“As I enter medical school, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to learn true compassion, joy in the simplest things, and resilience despite the myriad of obstacles that we face,” Deschner said. “I have become a compassionate leader, a resilient athlete, and a determined student. As a result, I will combine these qualities to become a thoughtful physician, making a difference through service.”
Matthews and Deschner emerged as the ACC’s 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year candidates following a vote of the league’s 15 member schools. The strong list of nominees from member institutions also included:
Boston College: Charlotte North (lacrosse)
Clemson: Cammy Pereira (softball)
Duke: Meible Chi (tennis) and Peyton St. George (softball)
Florida State: Nandini Das (tennis) and Taryn Knuth (volleyball)
Louisville: Makenli Forrest (track & field) and Meghan Schneider (field hockey)
Miami: Michelle Atherley (track & field) and Estela Perez-Somarriba (tennis)
North Carolina: Katie Hoeg (lacrosse) and Rachel Jones (soccer)
NC State: Olivia Calegan (swimming & diving) and Jaeda Daniel (tennis)
Pitt: Kayla Lund (volleyball) and Chinaza Ndee (volleyball)
Virginia: Paige Madden (swimming & diving)
Virginia Tech: Aisha Sheppard (basketball)
Wake Forest: Emilia Migliaccio (golf)
ACC member institutions claim three past NCAA Women of the Year honorees. Former Notre Dame soccer standout Elizabeth Tucker was named the 2014 NCAA Woman of the Year. Wake Forest’s Annie Bersagel (cross county/track & field) was recognized in 2006, and Virginia’s Peggy Boutilier (field hockey/lacrosse) received the honor in 1998.