ORLANDO, Fla.— Barry University softball player Shyla Rider has recently been named the 2009 Sunshine State Conference nominee for NCAA Woman of the Year.
With the award, Rider moves forward in contention for NCAA Woman Athlete of the Year. The nine finalists (three each from Divisions I, II and III) will be honored and the 2009 NCAA Woman of the Year winner announced at a dinner in Indianapolis, Ind., on October 18, 2009.
Rider becomes the second Barry student-athlete to earn the award in four years. Most recently, Greta Trotman won the award in 2006. In all, seven Buccaneer student-athletes have been finalist for NCAA Woman of the Year.
In addition to being named SSC Woman of the Year nominee, Rider was recently named SSC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the second time in her collegiate career, and earned an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. The scholarships are awarded each year to 174 student-athletes who excel academically and athletically and who are in their final year of intercollegiate athletics competition.
Rider is the fifth Barry University student-athlete to earn the award. Most recently, Patrick Rittenauer won the award in 2008.
