Droegemueller Named NCAA Woman of the Year for Oregon
September 1, 1998
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Oregon State senior gymnast Deanne Droegemueller has been named the NCAA Woman of the Year for the state of Oregon, the NCAA announced Tuesday. The NCAA selects a Woman of the Year from each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on three criteria: athletics, academics and leadership/community service.
Droegemueller represented Oregon State at the 1998 NCAA Gymnastics Championships, where she was named a first team All-American on bars. She was the Pacific-10 and NCAA West Regional Champion on bars as well, scoring a career high 9.975 on the event at both those meets. The All-American honor was the second of her career; she was a first team All-American on the balance beam in 1995.
"Deanne exemplifies all of the qualities that are good in intercollegiate athletics. The high standards she has set in all facets of her life will be benchmarks for future Oregon State gymnasts and female athletes as a whole," said OSU athletic director Mitch Barnhart. "She is very deserving of this honor and will represent our state well on a national level."
In addition to her numerous athletic honors in 1998, Deanne was named a second team Pacific-10 All-Academic selection, and she was the team captain of the 1998 OSU gymnastics squad. Droegemueller also served as vice president of OSUs Student Athlete Advisory Board and is a speaker for the We Are Role Models program.
"It's exciting to see such an exceptional athlete and student receive this award. Deanne is one of the most dedicated student-athletes I have ever worked with," said coach Tanya Chaplin. "She deserves to have the recognition of this award. She is the type of individual who's always giving, whether its to her team, the community or the classroom."
From the 51 state winners, 10 finalists will be named later this month. The 1998 NCAA Woman of the Year, chosen from the 10 finalists, will be named at an awards dinner in Indianapolis on October 18, 1998. The 51 state winners are all invited to attend the awards dinner, and several of the honorees also will participate in Indianapolis Women in Sports Day with the city's youth.
"I'm honored and excited to go to Indianapolis and meet the other Women of the Year," Droegemueller said. "It will be a great experience to talk with other women from other sports from all over the country. I'm proud to be representing the state of Oregon."
