GCU’s Nicoletti, CBU’s Olaeta WAC Nominees for NCAA Woman of the Year
DENVER – Grand Canyon softball player Gianna Nicoletti and California Baptist basketball player Ane Olaeta have been selected by the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Senior Woman Administrators (SWA) to represent the conference for the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year award. In its 32nd year, the award recognizes graduating female student-athletes for excellence in academics, athletics, community service and leadership.
Nicoletti, from Fullerton, Calif., earned her Bachelor of Arts in English for secondary education, Graduating Summa Cum Laude with a 3.98 grade-point average and is pursuing her Master of Education in secondary education with emphasis in Humanities at GCU.
She was named First Team All-WAC for a second time after setting a new conference record in stolen bases for a season (51). Nicoletti was also selected to the WAC All-Tournament team after she helped the Lopes to victory and their first ever bid to the NCAA softball regionals. She was also recognized as the 2021-22 Stan Bates Award winner as the top female student-athlete in the WAC.
Among her activities off the field, Nicoletti completed more than 200 hours of student teaching and was involved with Building Champions Leadership Academy (BCLA), Feed My Starving Children, the Arizona Special Olympics, and the Miracle League of Arizona – an organization that helps children, teens and adults with disabilities or special health care needs participate in adaptive baseball, at an accessible stadium, removing the barriers that would normally keep individuals off the field.
"Underdog was an easy term for people to label me. At 5'2 and 105 pounds, I didn’t fit anyone’s description of an ideal college softball player. In my junior year, I learned the importance of being myself, using the talents I have been given, and leading by example," said Nicoletti. "My time in college athletics has molded me into who I am today. I would not have been prepared to continue in life, without the successes and challenges. I am forever grateful."
Olaeta, who hails from Gernika-Lumo, Spain, graduated Magna Cum Laude with a 3.93 grade-point average as an international student, studying International Education. She also holds a 4.0 GPA in graduate school and is on track to graduate in August.
The WAC Player of the Year a season ago, Olaeta added the WAC Defensive Player of the Year award to her trophy case in 2022. She was named First Team All-WAC twice, and Second Team All-WAC twice in her four years in the conference.
Away from the gym, she was involved in volunteering for the Community Food Pantry, and worked with preschool children as an Early Education volunteer.
"Making the decision of moving overseas to both study and play basketball was one of the best decisions I have ever made," said Olaeta. "Throughout the last four years, not only have I learned lots of different aspects of life, but I have also learned a lot about myself. I came in as a little girl that never wanted to leave her parent's side, and after four years, I can say I am an independent and responsible woman thanks to all the situations I got through and all the people I have met and had an impact on me."
The Woman of the Year selection committee will next select the top 10 honorees in each NCAA division. The selection committee will then choose and announce the top nine finalists (three from each division). From the nine finalists, the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics then selects the NCAA Woman of the Year, who will be named later this fall.
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