Sept. 13, 2002

INDIANAPOLIS -
University of Utah All-America gymnast Shannon Bowles has been named one of 10 finalists for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award, one of the most prestigious honors the NCAA bestows. Bowles, who was first selected as the state of Utah nominee, will be honored at the annual NCAA Woman of the Year dinner on November 2 in Indianapolis, where the winner will be announced.

The award recognizes intercollegiate female student-athletes for their outstanding achievements in athletics, academics and community service.

Bowles is the only finalist who has also been awarded an NCAA postgraduate scholarship. The list of 10 finalists was trimmed from more than 340 entries and was selected by a committee comprised of athletics administrators from NCAA colleges and universities.

A gymnast has never won the NCAA Woman of the Year Award in the award's history, which dates back to 1991. Bowles was a nine-time All-American during her career at Utah and led the Utes to the NCAA Championships in 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002. She missed the 2000 season after breaking her neck in a preseason vaulting accident, but came back to become an All-American on beam and floor in 2001.

Her best season was her last, as she was named the 2002 NCAA North Central Region Gymnast of the Year and earned first-team All-America honors in the all-around and on beam and floor. She finished sixth in the all-around at the NCAA Championships, was third on floor exercise and seventh on the balance beam. Bowles tied for first on the balance beam with teammate Theresa Kulikowski both nights of team competition at the NCAA Championships, scoring a 9.95 both times.

In addition to her athletic honors, Bowles was a 2002 Verizon CoSIDA first-team Academic All-American who graduated cum laude with a 3.83 cumulative GPA. She earned bachelor degrees in exercise and sport science and psychology. She was named the Mountain West Conference Female Student Athlete of the Year for 2001-02 and has been nominated for NCAA Top VIII award. Bowles received Utah's Bud Jack Scholar-Athlete Award, which honors the senior female athlete with the highest cumulative GPA, and she was a member of the Dean's List every semester.

She was also active in community service, volunteering at the 10th East Senior Center and a rape recovery center. She also participated in the 2001 Walk for Diabetes and the 2000 Race for the Cure.

The 10 finalists, listed alphabetically by the state in which their university is located are: Tanisha Silas, UC-Davis, Track and Field; Angela Knopf, Colorado State, Volleyball; Katie Ryan, Boston College, Cross Country and Track; Morgan Buckner, Ferris State, Volleyball and Track and Field; Sarah Moe, Gustavus Adolphus College, Ice Hockey; Ann Marie Brooks, Missouri, Cross Country and Track; Jaimeeganleong Soohoo Reynolds, Cornell, Volleyball and Lacrosse; Shannon Bowles, Utah, Gymnastics; Alison Connolly, Middlebury College, Lacrosse and Soccer and Anna Mickelson, Washington, Rowing.

Last year's winner was Kimberly Black, a four-time NCAA all-American and an Olympic gold-medal swimmer from the University of Georgia.