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The University of Utah Athletics
Mancuso Nominated Woman of the Year
5/20/2005 12:00 AM | Skiing
May 20, 2005
SALT LAKE CITY -- The University of Utah is proud to announce the nomination of senior and four-time All-American April Mancuso for this year's NCAA Woman of the Year award. The downhill skier finalized her four-year collegiate skiing career with a fifth-place giant slalom performance and a 16th-place slalom finish at the 2005 NCAA National Championships. The Lake Tahoe, Calif., native recently earned first-team All-American honors with her top-five finish in the GS.
The NCAA Woman of the Year Award honors senior student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.
The overall winner is selected from ten finalists. The ten finalists are selected from winners from each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
"April has been one of the most outstanding student-athletes I have coached at the U.," said Head Coach Kevin Sweeney. "She has done everything on and off the race course with such vigor, determination and respect for her team that she has been a significant motivating force for the entire team. Her leadership has been incredible, year in and year out. She has found the balance of performing exceptionally well as an individual yet she is able to keep the bigger picture in perspective."
 Senior April Mancuso  | |
Mancuso also took rank with some of the top college racers in the world at Innsbruck, Austria, by competing at the '05 World University Games this season. While skiing for Team U.S.A., she finished 16th in the GS and 28th in the SL events.
This season, Mancuso won the Alf Engen Sportsmanship Award, which is the highest and most prestigious skiing award at Utah. The Alf Engen Sportsmanship Award is awarded to the outstanding athlete in either their junior or senior year on the team who has best demonstrated the most "inspirational" qualities. This award takes into consideration outstanding competitive achievement as well as noteworthy leadership and sportsmanship.
Mancuso is also a two-time recipient of the Toril Forland Outstanding Skier Award and has received the C.D. Reddish Memorial Award. The C.D. Reddish Memorial Award is awarded to the graduating senior or upper classman who has contributed the most to the team, not only in results, per se, but with respect to community relations and promoting the sport as a diplomatic ambassador. The Toril Forland Outstanding Skier Award is given to the female athlete who has been an important factor to the success and accomplishments of the Women's Ski Team programs.
 Senior April Mancuso | |
Highlighting her college-racing career, Mancuso posted four top-10 NCAA marks to go along with six top-10 West Regional Championships finishes. She raced to a second-place finish in the GS at the '02 NCAAs. She also rallied to sixth-place in the GS and eighth in the SL at the '04 NCAAs. The alpine specialist also won the '02 West Regional Championships in the GS and placed fifth in both the GS and SL at the '04 Regional Championships. Mancuso tallied fifth in the GS and ninth in the SL at the '05 Regional Championships this season. She also raced to five first-place podium finishes during her career at the RMISA (Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Skiing Association) Invitationals.
When this alpine skier isn't tearing up the college racing circuit, she spends countless hours in several volunteer and leadership positions. Mancuso has involved herself as a reseacher for the University of Utah Hospital emergency room, speakers board research team (eating disorder study), Planned Parenthood, Utah's Student Athlete Member (SAMS).
She has also participated in the Walk America for premature babies and worked as an Anesthesiology volunteer at the University of Utah hospital, a Children's Center volunteer and also interpreted Spanish at the University of Utah hospital.
The downhill skier was forced to redshirt the '02 season after a severe back injury, which occurred during a training run in the off-season. In that same year, Mancuso was named to the Academic All-American team, while recovering from a potentially career-ending injury. Mancuso will be graduating with a bachelor's degree in exercise of sport science and a minor in Spanish and psychology.
"She is working on a dynamite education and she enjoys giving back to the community in any way she can," remarked Sweeney. "She has a real positive and optimistic view on life. This picks us all up, builds our confidence and serves as a role model. I couldn't ask for a better combination for the ski team and the University of Utah. I am very proud she has been nominated for this award. It's just great for her to be recognized for her dedication, athleticism, academics and community service."
Players Mentioned
Alpine
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